River Pavilion: Chinese Export Porcelain Blue & White Tureen

Details

Description

River Pavilion: Chinese Export Porcelain Blue & White Tureen
Circa 1775

This Chinese Export porcelain soup tureen and cover dates … Read more River Pavilion: Chinese Export Porcelain Blue & White Tureen
Circa 1775

This Chinese Export porcelain soup tureen and cover dates to the Qianlong period, circa 1775. The piece is designed in a canted rectangular form with chamfered corners and is decorated throughout in a rich, vibrant underglaze blue. The exterior is adorned with continuous, elaborate river landscapes, or shanshui, which depict tranquil island pavilions, weeping willow trees, and rugged rockwork.

Tiny figures are shown expertly navigating small boats through the expansive watery vistas. The tureen is particularly notable for its sculptural handles, which are vividly modeled in the form of boar's heads with meticulously painted eyes and snouts. The cover is crowned by a large, scrolling finial in the Rococo taste. Intricate diaper borders frame the rim, while a precise "spearhead" band encircles the foot.

Dimensions
13 1/4 inches (33.66 cm) Wide
8 12 inches (21.59 cm) Deep
9 1/4 inches (23.50 cm) High

Condition Report
The tureen and cover remain in excellent antique condition.

Historical Context
Produced at the peak of the maritime China Trade in the late 18th century, massive soup tureens like this one served as the prestigious centerpieces for expansive dinner services exported to the West. The "Boar's Head" handle is a fascinating example of East-West artistic exchange, as the form was directly derived from European silver models sent to Chinese potters to be replicated in porcelain. This synthesis of Western baroque and rococo metalwork shapes with traditional Chinese landscape painting illustrates the sophisticated and globalized nature of the 18th-century art market.

(Ref: NY11025B-kcrx) See less