Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1488-1505 (circa)
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Subjects:bird phoenix,flower
Dimensions:Diameter: 23 centimetres (maximum) Height: 27 centimetres
Description:
Porcelain ‘bian hu’ flask with underglaze blue decoration and ground-down neck. This ‘bian hu’ flask has a flattened round body with a central circular depression on either side, a ground-down neck with short waisted section and tapering lug handles at the shoulder. Ingot-shaped knobs are attached midway on either side. The flask stands on a broad quatrefoil foot, glazed inside. Underglaze blue decoration is arranged in concentric bands with a flower head, surrounded by four octofoil cartouches framing single blooms on a ground of spirals. These dense panels are separated by half flowers with honeycomb centres and leaves. Phoenix flying over a ground of scrolling chrysanthemum flowers and foliage are shown in the outer ring. A leaf scroll motif separates the two sides. The foot is adorned with a border of lappets, the neck with plantain leaves and the remains of the upper neck with scrolling foliage.
IMG
![图片[1]-hu(bian hu; flask) BM-1963-0520.2-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Ming dynasty/Ceramics/mid_00014286_001.jpg)
![图片[2]-hu(bian hu; flask) BM-1963-0520.2-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Ming dynasty/Ceramics/mid_00266536_001.jpg)
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:Originally the neck would have been quite tall and tapering towards the rim. This type of very dense decoration in a dark cobalt blue is typical of the Hongzhi period ‘min yao’ wares. The shape of this flask is adapted from one found in Islamic sheet metal work which ultimately derived from a leather prototype. Three similar flasks from the Ardebil shrine, one with applied bosses, are in the Iran Bastan Museum, Teheran. One with a missing foot and damaged neck is in the Topkapi Saray Museum in Istanbul. Another flask of this kind with broken handles is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. This type of deep blue cobalt and dense style of decoration covering the entire surface may be seen on a round covered box excavated in 1969 from a tomb dated to the eleventh year of Hongzhi (1498), located in the city of Chengdu. It contrasts markedly to porcelain made in the Chenghua area, where large areas of the body were left undecorated.
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Subjects:bird phoenix,flower
Dimensions:Diameter: 23 centimetres (maximum) Height: 27 centimetres
Description:
Porcelain ‘bian hu’ flask with underglaze blue decoration and ground-down neck. This ‘bian hu’ flask has a flattened round body with a central circular depression on either side, a ground-down neck with short waisted section and tapering lug handles at the shoulder. Ingot-shaped knobs are attached midway on either side. The flask stands on a broad quatrefoil foot, glazed inside. Underglaze blue decoration is arranged in concentric bands with a flower head, surrounded by four octofoil cartouches framing single blooms on a ground of spirals. These dense panels are separated by half flowers with honeycomb centres and leaves. Phoenix flying over a ground of scrolling chrysanthemum flowers and foliage are shown in the outer ring. A leaf scroll motif separates the two sides. The foot is adorned with a border of lappets, the neck with plantain leaves and the remains of the upper neck with scrolling foliage.
IMG
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:Originally the neck would have been quite tall and tapering towards the rim. This type of very dense decoration in a dark cobalt blue is typical of the Hongzhi period ‘min yao’ wares. The shape of this flask is adapted from one found in Islamic sheet metal work which ultimately derived from a leather prototype. Three similar flasks from the Ardebil shrine, one with applied bosses, are in the Iran Bastan Museum, Teheran. One with a missing foot and damaged neck is in the Topkapi Saray Museum in Istanbul. Another flask of this kind with broken handles is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. This type of deep blue cobalt and dense style of decoration covering the entire surface may be seen on a round covered box excavated in 1969 from a tomb dated to the eleventh year of Hongzhi (1498), located in the city of Chengdu. It contrasts markedly to porcelain made in the Chenghua area, where large areas of the body were left undecorated.
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