Chinese Blue and White ‘Peony’ Baluster Jar and Cover

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Description

Kangxi style, late Qing dynasty/Republic period, late 19th/early 20th century
A well-potted blue and white baluster jar and cover of … Read more Kangxi style, late Qing dynasty/Republic period, late 19th/early 20th century
A well-potted blue and white baluster jar and cover of generous proportions, the ovoid body rising from a spreading foot to a waisted neck, surmounted by a domed cover with a compressed bud-form finial. The body is freely painted in vibrant tones of underglaze cobalt blue with a continuous garden scene of blossoming peonies borne on leafy stems, the national flower of prosperity and honour in Chinese decorative art, accompanied by a long-tailed bird perched among the branches. The shoulder carries a band of stylised ruyi-head lappets enclosing floral sprays beneath a keyfret border at the neck, while the lower body is encircled by a band of upright lappets enclosing pendant flower-heads. The cover is similarly decorated with peony sprays within line borders, echoing the principal register. The base is glazed white and unmarked, with a broad unglazed footrim revealing a finely levigated buff-white paste. Jars of this form, often called ‘general jars’ (jiangjunguan) after the resemblance of the cover to a general’s helmet, follow celebrated Kangxi-period prototypes and were produced at Jingdezhen through the late Qing and Republic eras for both domestic and export markets. Please request a full condition report for details.
— THE HOUSE —
From The Orient Gates: four generations of the Harb family, Damascene artisans and antique dealers since the 1870s, heirs of the painter Abou Sobhi Al-Tinawi (Muhammad Harb). Every piece is examined, restored and documented in our family ateliers. A certificate of authenticity accompanies every piece.
— DETAILS —
Origin: China, Jingdezhen
Period: Late Qing dynasty/Republic period, circa 1880–1930
Materials: Porcelain, Underglaze cobalt blue
Dimensions: Height: 40 cm (15¾ in.) See less