Page 21 - Bonhams Hong Kong The Skinner Moon Flasks
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fig.1 Blue and white ‘bajixiang’ moonflask, Qianlong seal mark and fig.2 Blue and white ‘bajixiang’ moonflask, Qianlong seal mark and
period, 50cm high; Image courtesy of the Palace Museum, Beijing period, 34.5cm high; Images courtesy of the Palace Museum, Beijing
Qianlong emperor had devoted himself to the study of dating from the Yongle and Xuande reigns of the Ming
porcelain as a form of craftsmanship, noting carefully the dynasty, was imported from Central Asia; the characteristic
achievements in the previous dynasties by the Court- and prominent raised dome at the middle of each main face
appointed Jingdezhen-kilns supervisor Tang Ying, and was recreated in these successor moonflasks three hundred
inheriting the old Imperial tradition re-established by years later. All the recorded Qing dynasty examples of such
his grandfather, the Kangxi emperor, of commissioning moonflasks share the following six features regardless
porcelain. Following this tradition, the emperor questioned of their size: a small mouth, a straight neck, a shoulder
every little detail, and was directly involved with every single decorated with a pair of handles, the overall shape being
element of the porcelain production process. The Archive flattened and circular, a round central dome on both main
of the Imperial Household Department often recorded that sides of the body, and an oval foot.
‘porcelain samples must be presented for the emperor’s
personal inspection before they are submitted to be made Moonflasks of this type were first made during the
in the Imperial kilns’. Therefore, many of the porcelains Yongzheng period, but production was halted for a short
produced during this period reflected strongly the period by Imperial decree in the late Yongzheng period,
emperor’s personal taste and appreciation. The blue and the Archives recording: ‘Contact Jiangxi porcelain-making
white ‘Bajixiang’ moonflasks in the Qing Court collection at place [Jingdezhen], later moonflasks no need to continue
the Palace Museum are outstanding examples suggesting firing processes’.2 Production was finally resumed during
all these features of direct Imperial involvement. the second year of the Qianlong reign (1737), with limited
numbers being created during the mid-Qianlong period.
The circular but flattened form, first seen in this exact shape Examples are usually decorated in blue and white, but
during the Yongzheng period, was inventoried as a ‘moon- several yellow-ground and monochrome varieties are also
hugging flask’ or ‘horse-hanging flask’ in the Yongzheng documented and published. The pair of blue and white
Imperial archives, and the production of this precise shape ‘Bajixiang’ moonflasks offered in this auction are therefore
continued into the Qianlong period. The original form, as among the most outstanding examples of such objects
used in much earlier 15th century porcelain predecessors produced during this period.
THE SKINNER MOONFLASKS | 19
