BW-06028 Meip’ing vase with underglaze-blue decoration of peony scrolls,

Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), Unmarked.

Height: 36.5cm, Mouth diameter: 4.2cm, Bottom diameter: 13.2cm, Interior bottom height: 0.2cm, Weight: 3650g.
This ware has been cleansed with Oxalic Acid to remove dirt and viscidities to restore its original luster for collection and preservation.

 

Reference (Ware form):

1. Ma, Xi-gui. “Figure 42: Meip’ing vase with underglaze-blue decoration of peony scrolls” Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, Shanghai: Shanghai Gu Ji, 1999, p.45.

2. Ma, Xi-gui. “Figure 44: Meip’ing vase with underglaze-blue decoration of kylin and peony” Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, Shanghai: Shanghai Gu Ji, 1999, p.45.

Small mouth, wide shoulder, slender waist, and slightly flared bottom formed powerful and strong style.  

Decoration of this ware painted from top to bottom with Buddhist emblems, lotus scrolls, peony scrolls, Tang leaf, and lotus petals. 

Peony symbolized prosperity, glory, and happy since Tang dynasty (618-907). Peony of Yuan dynasty mostly applied as main decoration, and possessed crafts of carving before drawing during the mature period. Petal sides remained clear white margin with fertile leaves.  

There were many clear jointed marks on ware body that was uneven and pared simply. Porcelain of Yuan dynasty demonstrates unique style, which contained large shape, thick clay, heavy ware, hard structure, white color, and sectioned gluing. 

Reference (style illustration):

1. Ma, Xi-gui. Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, Shanghai: Shanghai Gu Ji, 1999, p.43.

2. Liu, Liang-you. Research of Antique Porcelain, Taipei: Youth Culture, Jan. 1988, p.170.

Reference (Lotus decoration)

1. Fu, Zheng-chu. “Lotus decoration of Yuan dynasty” Culture of china, Taipei: Fine Arts Society, 1997, p.81.

 

Low concentration of manganese and high concentration of iron was the feature of imported pigment, Su-ma-li blue. Gorgeous underglaze blue showed black spots at dark pigment area. This pigment was applied in late Yuan dynasty and early Ming dynasty. The distinguished traits were dark and dense color, steady color, and slight iron rust spots.  

There were generally two kinds of lotus decoration, including “Lotus in bud” and “Lotus in blossoming”.  “Lotus in bud “presented bud that was narrowly long in heart shape and bilateral petals that had thin and long tip. 

Reference (Su-ma-li blue):

1. Fu, Zheng-chu. Culture of china, Taipei: Fine Arts Society, 1997, p.190.

2. Liu, Ru-shui. Appreciation of China, 2nd Ed, Taipei: Shuchuan, Aug. 2004, p.93.

Reference (Buddhist emblems):

1. Liu, Liang-you. “Common patterns of Buddhist emblems in Yuan dynasty” Research of Antique Porcelain, Taipei: Youth Culture, Jan. 1988, p.174.

Decoration of Buddhist emblems was painted on the ware shoulder. Underglaze-blue iron rust spots were slightly embedded into clay and presented bumpy vision. 

Decoration of Buddhist emblems displayed some ancient and common auspicious objects, comprising pearl, coin, chime stone, auspicious cloud, Fang Sheng, cup of rhino horn, painting, book, Ding, glossy ganoderma, gold ingot, silver ingot, coral, and so on. 

Reference (Buddhist emblems):

1.  Fu, Zheng-chu. Culture of china, Taipei: Fine Arts Society, 1997, p.229.

Porcelain clay of Yuan dynasty had brief refinement and caused loose structure. Various impurities that contain in clay formed sand holes, iron rust spots, and black spots on ware bottom. The bottom was mostly unglazed sand bottom, and remained rough scraping mark. 

Reference (Bottom):

1. Liu, Ru-shui. Appreciation of China, 2nd Ed, Taipei: Shuchuan, Aug. 2004, p.229.

 

The high amount of iron in imported pigment made yellowish and greenish brown iron rust spots appear on glaze surface.

 

In late period of Yuan dynasty, liquid glazing agent was applied due to steady development of reductive atmosphere and raised firing temperature. Thus, underglaze air bubbles distributed densely and translucently in various size.

Most ware bottom of Yuan dynasty had features of unglazed bottom, seen air holes, iron rust spots, and loose structure.