Page 95 - 2020 December 1 Bonhams Hong Kong, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of art

It is obvious that Imperial wares of early Chenghua period are The six-character mark written on monochrome yellow wares
technically and stylistically related to those of the Xuande reign, and it attributed to the early Chenghua period is also stylistically different from
is likely a reflection of the infinite admiration of the Chenghua emperor other examples produced from the mid to the late Chenghua period.
to his grandfather. There is no doubt that the present two dishes were This is evident from yellow-glazed shards bearing Chenghua marks
made in the early Chenghua period, but how early exactly? According recently find at Zhushan in Jingdezhen, where in earlier examples the
to the Ming Xianzong Shilu, (Veritable records of Emperor Xianzong of characters appear to have been written with a focus of calligraphy.
the Ming), when the Chenghua emperor ascended the throne in 1465, See also a Chenghua mark and period yellow-glazed dish in the
he ordered to suspend the production by the Imperial kilns, and there National Palace Museum (diam. 17.8 cm, acc.no.8393), with a similar
had been no records whatsoever about the Imperial kilns between execution of the mark, illustrated in Catalogue of the Special Exhibition
1465 and 1467. However, the first-ever record on Imperial ware of Ch’eng-Hua Porcelain Ware, Taipei, 2005, p.107, pl.90.
production was noted in the Da Ming Hui Dian (Collected Statutes of
the Ming Dynasty), volume 194: ‘In the fourth year of the Chenghua Although the present pair of yellow glazed dishes are unmarked, they
reign (1468), Imperial porcelain made for the Guanglusi, or Court of share the same characteristics of and quality of Chenghua marked
Imperial Banquets should be reduced by one-fourth (from the previous dishes and are no doubt masterpieces produced by the Imperial kilns
time).’ Therefore, one can speculate the pair of dishes were produced during the early Chenghua reign. Given the lengthy period of more than
no earlier than 1468. thirty years between 1435 and 1468, where no examples with Imperial
reign marks have been excavated, it is reasonable to argue that a re-
From the study of historical records of the Chenghua reign, one can establishment of such practice to the Imperial kiln would have been a
understand the primary motivation for the Chenghua emperor to more gradual process. Recent excavations at Zhushan in Jingdezhen
resume the production by the Imperial kiln in 1468, was to produce continue to reveal unmarked examples that can be reasonably dated
vessels and gifts for Buddhist ritual activities. to the early Chenghua period. Furthermore, an increasing number of
new materials are made available, and they appear to be developed
The Chenghua emperor, in his first three years of the regime was via three phases: Phase I with examples mostly with a strong influence
very cautious on spending, in addition to his edict to suspend the from the Xuande period; Phase II shows a stage with innovation;
production of porcelain at the Imperial kilns. This is demonstrated by Phase III, which can be dated 1481 to 1487, demonstrates some of
the list of Imperial gifts bestowed to the head of the Ling Tshang family the finest quality examples.
when he has conferred the title of Zan shan wang, or the Prince of
Assisting Virtue, recorded in 1467. The list contains an embroidered The present pair of yellow-glazed dishes offered at Bonhams are
robe and a monk’s hat, whereas bestowments from the Yongle and exceptional examples of great academic significance and value. They
Xuande emperors usually also included porcelain. are arguably the most important examples for a better understanding
of the development of the Imperial kilns during the early Chenghua
However, only shortly after one year in 1468, when the Chenghua period and perhaps the only pair of unmarked Chenghua period
emperor conferred titles to several high-ranked Tibetan monks, yellow-glazed anhua decorated dishes known in the present day.
including Daba jianzan (Dragpa Gyaltsen) as the fa wang or Dharma
Prince, Zha shi ba as the Da guo shi, or Great Master of the State,
together with two other Tibetan monks, the quantity and value of the
bestowments increased significantly, and Chenghua Imperial porcelain
which is in the style of the Xuande period was also included in the lists.
This is further supported by the considerable number of Chenghua
marked porcelain remaining in the collections of Tibetan monasteries.
The fact that the note in the Da Ming Hui Dian of the production by the
Imperial kilns and the list of bestowments containing Imperial porcelain
were recorded in the same year of 1468, is by no means coincidental.

Figs.1A & 1B, Huo zhao, (Test-piece with yellow glaze),
Yongle period, from the collection of Tang Ying Society
Fig.2: An Imperial-yellow and anhua-decorated
stemcup, Xuande mark and period, 15.2cm high
Fig.3: An Imperial yellow glazed dish, Chenghua
mark and period, 17.8cm diam