Page 201 - Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings, Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets

1942.9-625 (C-4/6)
Baluster Vase

Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722)
Porcelain wtihfamille noire enamels on the biscuit, 67.4 (26 %0
Widener Collection

INSCRIPTIONS
Spuriously inscribed in standard script on the base in under-
glaze blue within a double circle in three columns of two char-
acters each: Da Ming Chenghua nian zhi [made in the
Chenghua reign of the great Ming dynasty]

TECHNICAL NOTES
This vase is made of three sections that are luted together. The
interior has a thin, matte transparent glaze with a faint greenish
tinge. The foot-ring is rounded, and the recessed base is glazed
with a thin, shiny colorless glaze.
PROVENANCE
J. Pierpont Morgan [1837-1913], New York, by 1904. (Duveen
Brothers, New York and London); sold 1915 to Peter A. B. Widener,
Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; inheritance from
Estate of Peter A. B. Widener by gift through power of appoint-
ment of Joseph E. Widener, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.
HE PAINTING ON THIS BALUSTER VASE has a Strong if
Tsomewhat repetitive quality. The design consists of
rocks, two blossoming plum trees, clusters of pine nee-
dles, and a bird. The colors used are black, yellow,
aubergine, and three shades of green. White (actually a
colorless enamel) and aubergine have been used in the
larger branches of the trees, with dark green in the smaller
branches and tips.
The spurious Ming-dynasty Chenghua (1465-1487)
reignmark was common on many Kangxi porcelains (see
for example the pair of baluster vases, 1942.9.627-628). The
use of this and other Ming reignmarks, such as those of
the Xuande (1425-1434) and Jiajing (1522-1566), was most
likely motivated by a desire to pay homage to these classic
Ming reigns, which were renowned for their porcelains.
SL

REFERENCES
1904-1911 Morgan: i: 120, no. 785, pi. 52.

foot-ring and reignmark
on base of 1942.9.625

P O R C E L A I N S 18 5