Page 70 - Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings, Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets

1942-9-530 (C-383)
Vase

Qing dynasty, early eighteenth century
13
l
Porcelain with oxblood glaze, 42.7 x 21.6 (i6 /i6 x S /i)
Widener Collection
TECHNICAL NOTES
The glaze welt at the foot has been ground down to blend with
the overhang of the foot contour, creating a straight line at an
angle to the foot. The slightly recessed base is covered with the
usual light, finely crackled glaze. Absent here is the rounded
thick edge of glaze, which is a feature of the other oxblood-
glazed pieces in the collection. There are three apparently unin-
tentional smears of underglaze cobalt blue about 4 cm down
inside the neck. A chip about 6 cm long is missing from the
foot-ring. Two pieces of clay, possibly body trim shavings,
adhered to the body and were glazed over.

PROVENANCE
(Gorer, London); sold before 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 SHAPE OF THIS VASE is fuller than the other
TWidener oxbloods, the shoulder wider in propor-
tion to the vessel's height, and the base slightly more
spreading. The brilliant glaze is of an even tone, extend-
ing from the lip, darkening on the shoulder and lower
body to the base. The fine bubbles, a feature of the
langyao glaze, are more numerous on the lower half of
the vessel. The glaze inside the neck is the same creamy
buff as that on the interior of the first vase in this group
(1942.9.526) but slightly lighter. A thin streak of copper-
red color appears just inside the lip for about half its cir-
cumference.
Aside from the unfortunate grinding of the glaze, this
vase is a fine representative of its class of Kangxi porce-
lains. It was one of those admired by Sir Leigh Ashton. 1
JK

NOTES
i. See 1942.9.526, p. 46, note 3.

REFERENCES
1947 Christensen: 34.

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