Decorative

AN IMPORTANT LARGE 'PHOENIX & PEONY' BLUE ...

A rare and well-preserved example of 19TH CENTURY from Jingdezhen, China, Late 19th Century (Guangxu), noted for its craftsmanship, material quality, and historical relevance.

An Important Large ''Phoenix & Peony'' Blue and White Brush Washer (Bi-xi)\nLate Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Period (c. 1875--1908)\n\nThis exceptionally large and robustly potted brush washer represents the pinnacle of the Late Qing ''Scholar's Taste.'' Measuring 22.5 cm at its widest diameter and weighing a substantial 1.1 kilograms, the piece possesses a gravity and presence intended for the refined studio of a literati official. The compressed globular form features an elegantly inverted rim, designed to prevent water from splashing during the rinsing of calligraphy brushes. The exterior is masterfully painted in vibrant tones of cobalt blue with a continuous frieze of two Imperial Phoenixes (Fenghuang) soaring amidst a dense ground of flowering peonies and scrolling foliage. The painting quality is superb, exhibiting the ''watercolour'' wash technique where the cobalt varies in tone to create depth and movement in the plumage.\n\nUnusually, the interior is also richly decorated, featuring a central medallion of a stylized floral star surrounded by scrolling vines, allowing the owner to admire the artwork even while the vessel was in use.\n\nThe Mark: The base bears a finely written six-character apocryphal mark of Emperor Chenghua within a double circle. In the Guangxu period, this mark was used as a deliberate tribute to the Ming Dynasty's ''Golden Age'' of porcelain.\n\nThe Foot Rim: The unglazed foot rim is ''square-cut'' and has developed a natural, deep orange iron-red oxidation at the glaze line---a hallmark of genuine 19th-century firing.\n\nThe Patina: The base retains an ''honest'' patina of accumulated carbon and mineral deposits, consistent with over a century of handling and domestic use.\n\nCondition and Provenance\nOffered in excellent antique condition. The base retains the paper collection label: ''The G.S. May Esquire Private Collection, London, No. 619,'' providing a rare and ironclad Victorian-era provenance that is highly coveted by modern international collectors.

— Details

Reference

SA1206840

Origin

Jingdezhen, China, Late 19th Century (Guangxu)

Period

19TH CENTURY

Dimensions

W 22.5cm

Weight

1100 g

Rarity

High

Provenance

The G.S. May Private Collection, London

Condition

Excellent — see description