Page 74 - Mounted Oriental Porcelain Getty Museum

12. PAIR OF EWERS

THE PORCELAIN: Chinese (Kangxi), 1662-1722
THE GILT-BRONZE MOUNTS: French (Paris), 1745-49
HEIGHT: i ft., ii5/s in. (60 cm); WIDTH: i ft., i in. (33 cm); DIAMETER: SVi in. (21.5 cm)

78.DI.9.I-.2

DESCRIPTION FIG. I2.A
Each circular baluster-shaped vase with a trumpet-
shaped neck has been mounted as a ewer. The vase is COMMENTARY
clasped between a raised foot ring and a pouring lip of
gilt bronze, with a handle linking these two mounts. The tall flaring lip of each vase has been cut down.
The ground is a pale gray-green celadon painted Vase 78.01.9.2 was cracked at the neck and poorly
with a thick white slip and underglaze copper red and mended. This has been restored.
blue, with deer and storks amongst fungus, pine, and
stylized flowering trees below clouds. The fungus shown in the decoration is known as
The gilt-bronze pouring lip (fig. I2A) is of scrolled Lingzhi and is the mushroom of Immortality. The stork
design with applied branches of flowers, seed pods, and and the deer (fig. 120) are the vehicles of the god Shou-
leaves; its underside is chased with broad flutes. At the lao. The shape of the vase is known as a Yen Yen. A
opposite side the rim is linked to the foot by a high scroll- complete unmounted vase of the same shape was sold in
ing handle, split at the top and entwined throughout its London in 19So.1
length by a branch of flowers and leaves. The handle
(fig. i2B) clasps the lower part of the vase and is attached Such ewers were intended purely for decorative use
to the base mount by a pinned hinge. The foot of the vase and not as pouring vessels. A similar pair of celadon
is held by a deep molded ring of gilt bronze, entwined vases mounted as ewers is in the Musee du Louvre.2 A
with floral sprays. This, in turn, is supported on four high deep blue hexagonal vase in the James A. de Rothschild
open-work feet (fig. i2c) of scrolling acanthus leaves. Collection at Waddesdon Manor, England,3 bears very
similar mounts, which probably were made by the same
MARKS fondeur-dseleur.
The vase 78.01.9.1 bears one indistinctly struck
crowned C stamp on the foot mount, which is also
stamped "N°" and "N°. 16." The base of the vase is
painted with a double circle in underglaze blue and
"B-27-a" in red paint. A small label is glued to the base,
inscribed "N°. i" in ink. The vase 78.01.9.2 bears two
crowned C stamps on the foot mount, which is also
stamped "N°. 16." The base of the vase, thickly coated
with opaque shellac, is painted "B-27-b" in red paint.
These painted figures and stamps are certainly inventory
numbers used by earlier owners of the vases.

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