Page 208 - Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings, Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets

1942.9-609 (C-46o)
Bottle Vase

Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722)
Porcelain with famille noire enamels and carved decoration,
38.7x21 (15V4X8V4)
Widener Collection

INSCRIPTIONS
Spuriously inscribed in standard script on the base in underglaze shaped medallions at the top contain floral sprays. Below
blue in three columns of two characters each: Da Ming Xuande these, on the shoulder, are two ogival panels with repre-
nian zhi [made in the Xuande reign of the great Ming dynasty] sentations of scholarly attributes: The first contains a
vase, brush holder with scroll and brush, seal paste box,
TECHNICAL NOTES crackled Guan-ware wine container with ladle, books,
The vessel is thrown from a fine white paste. The low foot-ring and incense burner; the second contains a weiqi board,
is beveled and encloses a glazed base. There are numerous tiny
glaze flaws on the lower body. The carved areas were then cov- vase, incense burner, ruyi scepter, and other objects. The
ered with a slightly bluish transparent glaze that continues onto four circular medallions on the main body contain drag-
the interior. ons. Two of these are full faced with yellow heads; the
other two have blue heads shown in profile. Each medal-
PROVENANCE lion is framed by two red lines and one gold line. The use
M. J. Perry, 1 Providence, Rhode Island; sold to J. Pierpont of the spurious Ming-dynasty Xuande mark is typical of
Morgan [1837-1913], New York. (Duveen Brothers, New York many Kangxi ceramics, including monochromes and
and London); sold 1915 to Peter A. B. Widener, Lynnewood Hall, blue-and-white porcelains (see entry 1972.43.9).
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; inheritance from Estate of Peter A. B. SL
Widener by gift through power of appointment of Joseph E.
Widener, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.
NOTES
HE EXTERIOR OF THIS UNUSUAL VASE is covered with
Tcarved floral decoration in relief. That this decora- i. Edith Standen's notes on the Widener collection (in NGA
curatorial files). Probably Marsden J. Perry, Providence, Rhode
tion is carved and not applied is clear from the tool Island, as he was a collector of Chinese porcelains, six of which
marks and the generally uneven surface that is slightly are currently in the National Gallery collection.
depressed around the flowers and tendrils. Some textur-
ing and embellishing was added to the floral decor with
a knife while the clay was still damp. Amid the carved
decoration are eight medallions painted in enamel on REFERENCES
the biscuit in the famille noire palette with black, yellow, 1904-1911 Morgan: 2: 62, no. 1213, pi. 97.
blue, aubergine, and two shades of green. The two leaf- 1955-1958 Koyama et al.: pi. 42.

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