Page 102 - Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings, Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets

1942.9.487 (C-340) 1942.9.485-486 (C-338-339)
Vase Pair of Bottle Vases

Qing dynasty, Kangxi mark and period (1662-1722) Qing dynasty, Yongzheng mark and period (1723-1735)
1
Porcelain with pale blue glaze, 21.0 x 7.8 (& A x 3Me) Porcelain with pale blue glaze,
Widener Collection 1942.9.485: 15.3 X 7.5 (6 X 2 /i6)
15
15
1942.9.486: 15.3 X 7.5 (6 X 2 /i6)
Widener Collection
INSCRIPTIONS INSCRIPTIONS
Inscribed in standard script on the base in underglaze blue in Inscribed on each vase in seal script on the base in underglaze
three vertical lines of two characters each: Da Qing Kangxi nian blue in three vertical lines of two characters each: Da Qing
zhi [made in the Kangxi reign of the great Qing dynasty] Yongzheng nian zhi [made in the Yongzheng reign of the great
Qing dynasty]
TECHNICAL NOTES
The lavender-tinged pale blue glaze ends in an even line just TECHNICAL NOTES
below the exterior edge of the lip. The lip is covered with a col- 1942.9.485: The exceptionally smooth white paste is visible on
orless glaze, which extends into the interior of the neck. Several the unglazed foot-ring. The general technical excellence extends
small whitish protuberances appear on the shoulder and near to the even, soft blue glaze. 1942.9.486: The glaze is less uniform
the waist. At the neck, near the lip, there is a discolored restora- in color than that of 1942.9.485, and the glaze just above the foot
tion. Some white spots also appear on the neck. There is a small tends to pool and darken somewhat more. The reignmark is less
chip in the unglazed foot-ring, extending slightly into the base. deep and consistent in hue, but the colorless-glazed base
A bubblelike protrusion is located almost directly over the da appears to be an even more dazzling white. A small black spot
character on the base. is visible on the interior of the lip.

PROVENANCE PROVENANCE
(Yamanaka & Co., sale, American Art Association, New York, Thomas B. Clarke [1848-1931], New York, sold in 1913 to Peter A.
16-17 February 1915, no. 31); (Duveen Brothers, New York and B. Widener. J. Pierpont Morgan [1837-1913], New York, by 1911;
London); sold 1915 to Peter A. B. Widener, Lynnewood Hall, sold to (Duveen Brothers, New York and London); sold 1915 to
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; inheritance from Estate of Peter A. B. Peter A. B. Widener, Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania;
Widener by gift through power of appointment of Joseph E. both inheritance from Estate of Peter A. B. Widener by gift
Widener, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. through power of appointment of Joseph E. Widener, Elkins
Park, Pennsylvania. 1
ESPITE THE MINOR SURFACE FLAWS in the glaze and the
Drepair at the neck, this vase is one of the most beau- EXHIBITED
tiful of the pale blue monochromes in the National Morgan collection example: On display, Metropolitan Museum
2
Gallery collection, due in large part to its unusual, slight- of Art, New York, c. 1910-1911.
ly lavender color. This vase might well be regarded as the
immediate prototype of the following two Yongzheng P ALE BLUE MONOCHROME GLAZES were applied to a wider
bottle vases, 1942.9.485 and 486. range of objects than just the few "prescribed" types
3
VB of vessels that were adorned with peachbloom glaze. The
peachbloom types were exquisitely refined, relatively
REFERENCES small objects intended to be used or appreciated by the
connoisseur or scholar. Yet such "nonprescribed" types as
None

foot-ring and reignmark foot-ring and reignmark foot-ring and reignmark
on base of 1942.9.487 on base of 1942.9.485 on base of 1942.9.486

86 D E C O R A T I V E A R T S