Late 19th Century Exceptionally Fine 'Famille Rose' and Iron-Red 'Dragon and Phoenix' Porcelain Bowl

Details

Description

Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Mark and Period (1875–1908)
This exquisite, thinly potted bowl is a superb testament to the late Qing … Read more Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Mark and Period (1875–1908)
This exquisite, thinly potted bowl is a superb testament to the late Qing imperial revival of the Jingdezhen kilns. The piece features a highly refined, semi-translucent hard-paste porcelain body, exhibiting the delicate, resonant "eggshell" timbre prized by discerning connoisseurs. Under inspection, the pristine white glaze reveals a subtle, characteristic grayish-green undertone where the glaze naturally pools, confirming its period production.
The exterior walls are meticulously hand-enameled with the classic imperial pairing of a five-clawed dragon (Long) and a phoenix (Fenghuang), symbolizing perfect marital harmony and supreme yin-yang balance. The dynamic imperial dragon is rendered in a vibrant, finely detailed iron-red overglaze, soaring amidst multi-colored famille rose (fencai) auspicious clouds. On the reverse, the phoenix is magnificently articulated with an opalescent pink-enameled cape, intricate green scales, and a lavish, multi-feathered tail executing a graceful aerial turn.
The composition is anchored at the base by a traditional crest of stylized, multi-colored rolling waves (lishui), while the rim is framed by a flawless, continuous iron-red key-fret border. The base bears a finely painted six-character reign mark in iron-red kaishu script reading Da Qing Guangxu Nian Zhi (Made during the Guangxu Reign of the Great Qing Dynasty). The unglazed foot rim shows gentle, honest wear entirely consistent with its age and pedigree.
Dimensions: [Insert Diameter] cm, [Insert Height] cm.
Condition: Excellent museum quality, with beautifully preserved enamel coloration and no structural intervention. See less