vase BM-1968-0422.34

Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1426-1435
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Subjects:lotus the three friends of winter
Dimensions:Height: 51.50 centimetres

Description:
Large porcelain vase with underglaze blue decoration, cut-down neck and gilt-bronze mount. This large heavily potted altar vase has a cut-down neck and gilt-bronze mount. Originally it would have extended further, narrowing before flaring out to a wide mouth. It has sloping shoulders and an elongated body and stands on a very high flared foot with a stepped edge. Inside the foot it is glazed blue-white. Its foot ring is ground smooth, showing a pale porcelain paste with a peppering of brown iron impurities. It is ornamented in uneven underglaze cobalt around the neck with turbulent waves with white crests, one of which has an eye, nose and mouth painted on. At the top in a space kept clear of waves is a horizontal six-character Xuande reign mark read from right to left. Around the body are the Three Friends of Winter, intermingled bamboo, pine and prunus; above and below are bands of lappets pointing up and down respectively. The foot of the vase is painted with a continuous scroll with five stylized lotus blooms.
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Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:During the Xuande era there was a development in the method of joining pieces of a large porcelain item together. The upper and lower elements were made with a matching groove and projecting section to fit into the groove. This made the large item more stable during its firing in the kiln and reduced the number of failed pieces.