Early 19th Century Chinese Export Famille Rose (Fencai) Gu-Form, Now as a Lamp

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Early- to Mid-19th-Century Chinese Export Famille Rose (Fencai) Gu-Form Vase, Later Mounted as a Lamp

Dimensions:
20.5" high to socket
… Read more Early- to Mid-19th-Century Chinese Export Famille Rose (Fencai) Gu-Form Vase, Later Mounted as a Lamp

Dimensions:
20.5" high to socket
Vase alone: approx. 15.5" high
Base: 9.75" diameter
Top Rim: 8.75" diameter

A richly decorated Chinese export porcelain vase of gu form, dating to the early to mid-19th century Qing period, later mounted as a lamp on a carved hardwood base. The vase is painted in the famille rose (fencai) palette, its enamels displaying the soft turquoise, pink, and yellow hues characteristic of the period.

Shaped after the ancient bronze gu beaker, the form was revived in porcelain during the Qing Dynasty as a statement of continuity with antiquity and cultural refinement. This example features finely detailed figural reserves: warriors on horseback with banners and shields, symbolizing martial valor and heroic achievement; and domestic and garden scenes with scholars and attendants, evoking literary cultivation and harmony.

The panels are framed within floral and fruiting borders, with peonies symbolizing wealth and high status, peaches for longevity, and a bird (likely a magpie) for joy and auspicious news. The interior is enameled turquoise, while the flared rim is bordered in yellow with floral sprays, underscoring the auspicious, festive quality of the piece. A band of upright lotus-petal lappets encircles the base, representing purity and enlightenment.

Now drilled and fitted as a lamp, with expected minor wear to enamels and surface consistent with age. Presents beautifully with strong colors and decorative impact.

Such famille rose vases were highly prized in the West during the 19th century, exported from Jingdezhen kilns to both Chinese and European patrons. The present example represents the earlier, more refined phase of fencai export production, with delicately painted figures and a restrained pastel palette that distinguishes it from the more commercial, mass-produced wares of the later 19th century. See less