Page 64 - Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings, Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets

1942.9-527 (C-38o)
Vase, called "The Fire Cloud"

Qing dynasty, early eighteenth century
1
Porcelain with oxblood glaze, 43.8 x 18.1 (i/ ^ x /Vs)
Widener Collection

TECHNICAL NOTES
A crack, open at the surface for much of its length, extends from appears in the transparent glaze roll at the foot. The
mid-body down, across the base, and up the opposite side for usual crackle and fine bubbles are present. Below the lip
about 12 cm. There are circular cracks in the glaze on the base. on the inside, the glaze is colorless and is peppered with
tiny black specks. The transparent glaze inside the neck
PROVENANCE and on the base has a green tint and is crackled on the
George R. Davies, Cheshire, England; sold to (Gorer, London).
(Dreicer and Co., New York, agents of Gorer, London); sold 1913 inside of the neck only. The unglazed foot displays fine
to Peter A. B. Widener, Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, white porcelain and is slightly inset from the flared ter-
Pennsylvania; inheritance from Estate of Peter A. B. Widener by mination of the contour, then beveled. The flat base was
gift through power of appointment of Joseph E. Widener, trimmed in about a half centimeter.
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. JK

HIS VASE, KNOWN AS "The Fire Cloud," has been treat-
Ted as a companion to "The Flame" (1942.9.528), the NOTES
other vase in the collection that has an individual poeti- i. The baluster shape of this vase and its companion piece
cal name. Unusual clouding and patterning of color, resembles that of a fine oxblood vase in the Metropolitan
combined with fine proportion, produces a dynamic Museum of Art; Altman Bequest, Metropolitan Museum of Art,
effect. 1 The Widener collection offers no better illustra- ace. no. 14.40.119, repro.; Hobby 1953, pi. 22, center. The Altman
Bequest furnished the Metropolitan Museum of Art with twelve
tion of the special quality of fluidity and variation of the fine oxblood vases.
Kangxi langyao glaze. Nor is there a better example of the
shifting from pale green to deep red that is a property of
this glaze. Irregular areas of pale green or pale red, and REFERENCES
streaking and collecting of bright red color, especially on 1911 Gorer and Blacker: 2: pi. 162.
and below the shoulder, are apparent. A true green 1913 Gorer: no. 158, pi. opp. p. 32.

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