China

Room 7

PORCELAIN FROM THE JINGDEZHEN KILNS – QING DYNASTY
中國陶瓷 - 清代景德鎮窯

Case 40

Celadon and “peach bloom” glazes 青釉與豇豆紅瓷器

Porcelain from the Jingdezhen kilns 景德鎮窯, Jiangxi Province 江西省, Qing dynasty 清代 (1644-1911).

The so-called “peach bloom” glaze was developed in the reign of Emperor Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722). The term covers a wide variety of shades obtained by adding copper red. The main shade is a pale pink, but it may include patches of green or take on a purplish hue. The Chinese tend to refer to “apple red” or “apple green” 苹果紅或苹果綠, “crimson pink” 玫瑰紫 or “bean red” 豇豆紅. The use of this fine glaze is confined to eight prescribed types of object, found exclusively on the scholar’s desk, all of which are represented in the Baur Collection.

  1. Pale celadon jar 青釉古銅器式紋罍

    Mark and reign of Qianlong 乾隆 (1736-1795)

    CB-CC-1932-379

    This shape is reminiscent of ancient Chinese lei 罍 jars.

  2. Pale celadon bottle with garlic-head mouth 青釉蒜頭瓶

    Mark and reign of Yongzheng 雍正 (1723-1735)

    CB-CC-1929-362

  3. Pale celadon ring-handled bowl with ruyi head pattern 青釉環紋碗

    Mark and reign of Qianlong 乾隆 (1736-1795)

    CB-CC-1933-378

    The shape of this piece is perhaps based on a bronze from the Warring States 戰國 (5th c. B.C. to 221 B.C.) or Han 漢 (206 B.C. - 220 A.D.) periods.

  4. Pale celadon bowl with chrysanthemum decoration in relief 青釉菊花紋碗

    Mark and reign of Yongzheng 雍正 (1723-1735)

    CB-CC-1934-372

  5. “Peach bloom” Guanyin vase 豇豆紅釉觀音瓶

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722)

    CB-CC-1996-669

    Known as a Guanyin vase owing to its similarity with the vase containing the dew of immortality which this bodhisattva holds.

  6. “Peach bloom” box for vermilion seal 豇豆紅釉印盒

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722)

    CB-CC-1931-308

  7. Bowl with red bats on a celadon ground 青釉蝙蝠紋碗

    Mark and reign of Yongzheng 雍正 (1723-1735)

    CB-CC-1934-532

    The five bats represent the Five Happinesses: longevity, wealth, health, love of virtue and natural death.

  8. Pale celadon vase 青釉瓶

    Mark and reign of Yongzheng 雍正 (1723-1735)

    CB-CC-1950-366

    A celadon vase made at the Longquan kilns 龍泉 under the Song 宋代 (960-1279) may have been an early prototype for this shape.

  9. “Peach bloom” vase with lotus corolla 豇豆紅釉荷瓣瓶

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722), circa 1710-1722

    CB-CC-1996-665

  10. “Peach bloom” water pot, chicken cage shape 豇豆紅釉太白尊

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722)

    CB-CC-1928-315

    This shape is known as “chicken cage”, as it resembles the bird baskets used in China.

  11. “Peach bloom” vase with coiled dragon 豇豆紅釉龍瓶

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722), circa 1710-1722

    CB-CC-1996-668

  12. “Peach bloom” box for vermilion seal 豇豆紅釉印盒

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722)

    CB-CC-1996-670

  13. “Peach bloom” Guanyin vase 豇豆紅釉觀音瓶

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722)

    CB-CC-1996-671

  14. Gong-shaped “peach bloom” brush washer 豇豆紅釉鏜鑼洗

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722), circa 1710-1722

    CB-CC-1930-309

  15. “Peach bloom” radish-shaped vase (also known as "three strings") 豇豆紅釉三綫或萊菔(蘿卜)尊

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722), circa 1710-1722

    CB-CC-1996-667

  16. “Peach bloom” water jar in chicken cage shape 豇豆紅釉太白尊

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722)

    CB-CC-1930-316

    Three medallions representing coiled dragons are finely incised on the sides.

  17. “Peach bloom” vase with lotus corolla design 豇豆紅釉荷瓣瓶

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722)

    CB-CC-1935-307

  18. Pale celadon vase with lotus corolla design 青釉荷瓣瓶

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722)

    CB-CC-1933-357

    The shape of this rare piece is typical of “peach bloom” pieces.

  19. Gong-shaped “peach bloom” brush washer 豇豆紅釉鏜鑼洗

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (166 2-1722), circa 1710-1722

    CB-CC-1944-306

  20. Pale celadon jardinière (one of a pair) 青釉花盆

    Mark and reign of Yongzheng 雍正 (1723-1735)

    CB-CC-1951-367

  21. Pale celadon cricket jar with pierced rosettes 青釉蓋蟈蟈籠

    Mark and reign of Qianlong 乾隆 (1736-1795)

    CB-CC-1934-375

  22. Two-handled celadon vase 青釉雙耳瓶

    Mark and reign of Qianlong 乾隆 (1736-1795)

    CB-CC-1931-383

    The elaborate decoration includes endless knots, beribboned swastikas, and ruyi heads, and is clearly designed to bring good fortune.

  23. “Peach bloom” box for vermilion seal 豇豆紅釉印盒

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722), circa 1710-1722

    CB-CC-1930-312

  24. “Apple”-shaped “peach bloom” water jar 豇豆紅釉苹果形尊

    Mark of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722), late Qing - early Republic (1912-1949)

    CB-CC-1996-666

  25. Pale celadon vase 青釉瓶

    Mark and reign of Qianlong 乾隆 (1736-1795)

    CB-CC-1930-381

  26. Pale celadon writing box 青釉筆船

    Mark and reign of Qianlong 乾隆 (1736-1795)

    CB-CC-1932-376

    This piece is based on the design of Islamic writing boxes, and is divided into four inner compartments, three of which hold ink, and the fourth, water.

  27. Celadon vase with relief pattern made up of one-hundred “longevity” characters 青釉百壽紋瓶

    Mark and reign of Qianlong 乾隆 (1736-1795)

    CB-CC-1944-385

    The nature of the decoration suggests that this unusually elaborate vase was made as a birthday present for an elderly man, perhaps for the emperor himself.