Decorative

A RARE 'BATAVIA' CHOCOLATE-GLAZED 'BIRD AND PRUNUS' ...

A rare and well-preserved example of 19TH CENTURY from Chinese, Qing Dynasty, Jiaqing Period (c. 1796–1820), noted for its craftsmanship, material quality, and historical relevance.

This robustly potted bowl is a master class in the Batavia style of monochrome glazing. The exterior is enveloped in a deep, velvety Café au Lait ground—a rich 'chocolate' tone of exceptional depth and lustre. The piece features a characteristic organic round form with a slight kiln-warped asymmetry, a technical hallmark of authentic early 19th-century porcelain produced in traditional wood-fired kilns. The decoration is masterfully executed using a white-reserve technique, creating a vivid silhouette of a magpie perched amidst blossoming prunus branches. The brushwork possesses a calligraphic fluidity and intentionality; the bird's spirited posture and the delicate rendering of the petals reflect the scholarly elegance of the Jiaqing era's classical revival.\n\nScholarship and Comparative Literature:\nThis specific 'Bird and Prunus' motif on a deep Café au Lait ground is a sophisticated evolution of the earlier Kangxi imperial style. This piece finds its definitive scholarly parallel in the Brian McElney Book "CHINESE CERAMICS & THE MARITIME TRADE PRE -1700", specifically documented work Chinese Ceramics by Brian McElney, illustrated as Entry No. 105. While the McElney example defines the 17th-century standard, the present lot—with its significant material 'heft' and distinctive chocolate-tone— serves as the definitive early 19th-century iteration.\n\nAuthentication and Markings:\nThe base bears an inky underglaze blue 'grass-script' (caoshu) mark, with the cobalt having matured deep within the glaze over two centuries. Uniquely, the interior well features a raised, textured 'Zheng' mark in overglaze black enamel. The significant 'cinder-like' oxidation and devitrification of this interior mark provide a critical chronological record, confirming a genuine 200-year environmental patina.\n\nTechnical Specifications:\nDimensions: 12.5 cm (Diameter) x 7.5 cm (Height)\nWeight: 225 g\nOrganic round form with slight kiln-warp (authentic period indicator).\nDeep 'Batavia' Café au Lait (Chocolate) monochrome ground.\nReference: Chinese Ceramics: The Brian McElney Collection, Ref. 105.\nMarkings: Under glaze blue cursive mark (base); Oxidized over glaze 'Zheng' mark (interior).\nCondition: Excellent antique condition; honest age-appropriate surface wear.

— Details

Reference

SA1207764

Origin

Chinese, Qing Dynasty, Jiaqing Period (c. 1796–1820)

Period

19TH CENTURY

Dimensions

H 7.5cm

Weight

225 g

Rarity

Rare

Provenance

Brian McElney Collection, Ref. 105.

Condition

Excellent — see description