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Eloge de l'Art par Alain Truong
8 septembre 2009

Painted enamel gu vase. China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period 1736 - 1795

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Painted enamel gu vase. China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period 1736 - 1795

A polychrome enamel Gu shaped vase of square section. The base is flat and forms a flared stem that leads up towards a bulbous middle section. A sloping ridge divides this area with the stem and the flaring neck of the vase, which follows. Protruding flanges ornament the edges of the vase along all three sections. The middle section of the vase is painted with four shaped cartouches, each depicting a European-style village with buildings and a bridge in a romantic landscape setting with mountains and trees. The neck and stem are decorated with a design of stylised prunus flowers on a ‘cracked-ice' ground and with bands of stiff leaves. The interior is painted in a pale monochrome blue and the base is white. Height : 13.30 cm - Price on application

This small, delicately painted gu vase represents an interesting combination of form and design. The gu shape is inspired by archaic Chinese bronze ritual vessels, which originated in the Shang dynasty (c.1500 – 1028 BC), an example of which can be found in the Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst in Cologne. The inclusion of Chinese designs, such as the prunus, ‘cracked-ice' ground and plantain leaves, coupled with European landscape scenes makes this vase unusual. Jesuit missionaries who arrived in China from France are thought to have been involved with the production of painted enamels in the early part of the 18th century, which helps to explain the blend of decoration. In the Chinese vocabulary of decorative devices, the occurrence of flowers on a ‘cracked-ice' ground signifies the beginning of Spring, and therefore the beginning of new life. The Qianlong period witnessed an increase in the production of painted enamels for both internal and external markets. A small painted enamel gu vase of very similar form, also decorated with European-style landscape panels, is in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.

Ben Janssens Oriental Art 91c Jermyn Street SW1Y 6JB London - United Kingdom. Tel : +44 (0) 20 7976 1888 - Fax number : +44 (0) 20 7976 2588 - Email address : info@benjanssens.com - Website : http://www.benjanssens.com

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