Page 130 - Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings, Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets

1942.9.536 (C-389)

Vase, Meiping Shape

Qing dynasty, mid/late eighteenth century
3
Porcelain with apple-green glaze, 17.2 x 10.1 (6 A x 4)
Widener Collection

TECHNICAL NOTES
The underlying glaze appears almost white near the mouth, some began to be manufactured without lids, as they are
where there is a distinct band without green enamel, and gray- today. The popularization of the term meiping in the
er on the base. In the interior of the mouth there are only a few eighteenth century is evidence that this change had
crackle lines, while on the exterior the crackle is more uniform. already occurred by that time. In any case, it does not
The green enamel is quite dark, with numerous pinholes and a seem likely that this particular piece was ever intended to
few black spots; it exhibits slight iridescence. There are some be anything other than a vase.
minor scratches in the enamel at the shoulder. The base is
deeply recessed, and the foot-ring contracts rather sharply and VB
is distinctly wedge-shaped. Traces of the brown wash survive on
the unglazed foot-ring, but most has worn away. Some green
enamel sweeps over the underlying glaze onto the unglazed NOTES
foot, but as a thin ribbon rather than discrete drops. 1. Morgan 1904-1911, 2: 85, no. 1354.
2. Beurdeley and Raindre 1987,162.
PROVENANCE
J. Pierpont Morgan [1837-1913], New York; (Duveen Brothers, 3. See Lion-Goldschmidt 1978, 29, for a chronological chart of
New York and London); sold 1915 to Peter A. B. Widener, the form's evolution.
Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; inheritance from A particularly close parallel to this example was exhibited in
Estate of Peter A. B. Widener by gift through power of appoint- 1952 in Los Angeles. This vessel, which is slightly taller than
ment of Joseph E. Widener, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. 1942.9.536, has all but identical proportions and a similar white
mouth, but its base was left unglazed. See Trubner 1952,115, no.
EXHIBITED 360, repro.
On display in the Morgan galleries of the Metropolitan The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, has two apple-
Museum of Art, New York, c. 191O-19H. 1 green vases that resemble this piece, nos. 14.40.242 and
14.40.354, both from the Altman bequest. The former is more
K NOWN AS THE MEIPING, or "plum blossom vase," a sta- squat than the latter; however, they are both taller than their
the
National Gallery vase, with more
swelling shoulders, and
Song dynasty, this
ple of Chinese ceramics since the
high-shouldered oviform shape with short neck and mouth rims retain more green enamel. Their bases are both
small mouth was among the more favored forms to be covered with glaze (gray-white color on 14.40.242, of a more
given an apple-green glaze during the Qing dynasty. celadon shade on 14.40.354).
Beurdeley and Raindre claim that Qing apple-green vases The Baur Collection, Geneva, includes an unusual apple-
follow the Ming meiping shape. 2 The Qing potters do green vase that is a variant of this form. It has a cupped mouth
seem to have adopted the general Ming form, which has rather than the more usual plain neck. Otherwise, its propor-
and
mouth,
glazed base are quite
tions, white-edged
like
those
broader shoulders than the more sloping-shouldered of this piece. See Ayers 1968-1974, 3: A46i.
Song or Yuan meiping. However, Qing apple-green meiping
mouth rim.
darkened
Yet another
a thickened,
vary, as do Ming meiping. Indeed, this ceramic form This is found on variant has smaller (11.6 cm) vase probably from
a much
exhibits many permutations throughout its history. 3 the mid-eighteenth century. See Hempel 1974,118, no. 185, repro.
Although it is conventionally referred to today by the
name meiping, implying its purpose as a vase to hold 4. See Lion-Goldschmidt 1978,29-30, also 60, pi. 20, and 62, pi.
22, for two Ming examples with their original covers.
plum blossoms, this usage does not seem to predate the
eighteenth century. Indeed, these "vases" were originally
wine containers, equipped with lids, only a few of which REFERENCES
4
have survived. At a certain point it appears that at least 1904-1911 Morgan: 2: 85, no. 1354, color pi. 139.

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