Page 156 - Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings, Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets

1972.43-19 (C-574)
Vase in the Shape of
an Archaic Bronze Hu

Qing dynasty, Yongzheng mark and period (1723-1735)
1
13
Steatitic porcelain, 19.1 x 12.2 (7 /2 x 4 /i6)
Harry G. Steele Collection, Gift of Grace C. Steele
INSCRIPTIONS
Incised in seal script on the base in two columns of three char- encircled by a band of six ascending leaves, two pairs of
acters each: Da Qing Yongzheng nian zhi [made in the raised lines with a key-fret band, and a band of six
Yongzheng reign of the great Qing dynasty] ascending trefoils (a variant of a design known in
Chinese as yunjian). The lower slope of the neck is
TECHNICAL NOTES incised with four archaistic phoenixes. Two sets of raised
The clay body is formed from a white paste, and the glaze is thin lines surround the shoulder; between these is a band of
with a matte surface.
ascending and descending bow-shaped hooks. Another
PROVENANCE raised line circles the point at which the foot joins the
(Yamanaka, New York); sold May 1941 to Harry G. Steele main body. Below this is a variant band of the trefoil
[1881-1941], Pasadena; his widow, Grace C. Steele. designs seen above. Around the foot is a band of petals
applied above a raised line.
An identical vessel can be found in the Baur
HIS ELEGANT VESSEL is FINELY POTTED; its shape imitates Collection, Geneva. 2
Tthat of a bronze ritual hu vessel of the early Shang SL
dynasty (fifteenth century B.C.). 1 The high foot-ring
encloses a glazed base with a six-character mark of
Yongzheng incised in the body in seal script.
The decoration is incised into the clay body and com- NOTES
bines motifs found on Ming- and Qing-dynasty ceram- 1. Compare, for example, Loehr 1968, pi. 3; and Lawton et al.
ics with archaistic motifs borrowed from ancient bronzes 1987, pi. 93-
and jades. Around the lip is a classic scroll. The neck is 2. Sekai tdji zenshu, 15: 89; Ayers 1968-1974, 3: A42i.

foot-ring and reignmark
on base of 1972.43.19

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