Vase

Polychrome.
Clay: fine-grained white porcelain.
Glaze: transparent, glossy.
Decoration: in colored enamels over glaze; a landscape with palaces; poem of 14 characters; 3 simulated seals; 4 character Qianlong mark in blue enamel on base.

Historical period(s)
Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign mark, 1736-1795
Medium
Porcelain with clear glaze and overglaze enamels
Style
Jingdezhen ware
Dimensions
H x W: 19.6 x 9.8 cm (7 11/16 x 3 7/8 in)
Geography
China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1961.13
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Vase

Keywords
China, Jingdezhen ware, landscape, palace, porcelain, Qianlong reign (1736 - 1796), Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911)
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Polychrome.
Clay: fine-grained white porcelain.
Glaze: transparent, glossy.
Decoration: in colored enamels over glaze; a landscape with palaces; poem of 14 characters; 3 simulated seals; 4 character Qianlong mark in blue enamel on base.

Inscription(s)

1. Poem:

[Ch] Chen - Mountain [Ch] Se - Color [Ch] Tsung - Plants [Ch] Lung - Grass
[Ch] Tan - Red (Lacquered) [Ch] Ch'ien - door-sill (of the Imperial Palace) [Ch]
Wei - outside

"Outside the red Lacquered door-sill (of the Imperial Palace) the mountain hues emanate from the plant and grass covered peaks."

[Ch] Ya - Evening hue [Ch] Kuang - Light [Ch] Feng - Floating [Ch] Yan - rippling [Ch] Ts'ui - Jade-green [Ch] Sung - Pine tree [Ch] Shao - tip

"Over the top of the Jade-green Pine Tree the evening hue beautifies the floating, rippling clouds."

On the upper right of the poem, there is a raised pink glaze seal in two characters [Ch] Jen Hua (cultivated kindness)

On the lower left of the poem, there are two seals:

(1) In two characters: [Ch] Shan-Kao (mountain high)
(2) In two characters: [Ch] Shui Ch'ang (water long)

2. (Jan Stuart, 25 Nov. 1997) The couplet is by the Tang dynasty poet Liu Yuxi (772-842):

Mountain hues are green and lush beyond the
vermilion railings;
Rosy clouds glow and shimmer at the tips of
bright-green pines.

Translation from label text by S. Allee.

Marking(s)

Four-character Qianlong mark in blue enamel on base.

Published References
  • Oriental Ceramics: The World's Great Collections. 12 vols., Tokyo. vol. 10, pl. 130.
  • G.C. Williamson. The Book of Famille Rose. London. pl. 28.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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