Page 61 - Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings, Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets

1942.9-525 (C-378)
Vase

Qing dynasty, early eighteenth century
l
Porcelain with oxblood glaze, 39.3 x 19.7 (15 /i x 7%)
Widener Collection

TECHNICAL NOTES
Exposed at the foot, the white porcelain body is fine and
smooth. Throwing rings are palpable on the inside of the lower
section. The glossy glaze on the outside of the beaker has small
l
bubbles and a random crackle averaging /2 cm in size. The form
has a joint here, discernible from the inside. The base, which is
slightly recessed within the beveled unglazed foot-ring, has a
thin transparent glaze with a pale aqua tint and a fine mesh
crackle. There are two small cracks on the lip. One extends
approximately 5 cm on the inside and 2 cm outside; the second
is slightly shorter. A few small cracks appear on the base.

PROVENANCE
(Duveen Brothers, New York); sold 1914 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.
N THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, as in the Song dynasty,
I ancient ceremonial bronze vessels provided inspiration
for a variety of shapes, of which this is an example. A flar-
ing trumpet-shaped mouth on a tall wide neck, a swelling
central section, and a slightly flaring base combine to cre-
ate a faithful version of a form rooted deeply in tradition.
As in most large Kangxi vessels, the walls are relatively
thick, and the impression given is that of simple sturdi-
ness. Although this beaker shape is seldom found among
oxblood vases of this period, the shape is not unusual in
other wares of the Kangxi period. 1
The brilliant red color flows down in fine streaks from
a worn rim. Light flecks, especially in the central band, are
evident. The glaze collects in an even, heavy, dark welt at
the foot. On the inside of the open mouth, the red glaze
continues down to the contour change at the midsection.
A narrow strip of biscuit at this point separates the red
glaze from the colorless glaze that lines the rest of the
interior. The interior red glaze has a very different surface
texture and color; that on the outside is matte, pale in
color, and abraded.
JK
NOTES
i. A similar but much smaller vase is in the Brundage
Collection; Lefebvre d'Argence 1967, pi. 65 (A). The Frick
Collection in New York has a Kangxi blue-and-white vase of
smaller size, but very close to the Widener oxblood beaker in
proportion and contour; Pope 1974, 58.

P O R C E L A I N S 45