Dynasty Blue-and-White Applied-Relief Meiping with Auspicious Lions and Floral Panels

拍品描述

Dimensions: 42 cm (approx. 16.54 inches); Yuan Dynasty, 13th-14th century; Condition and Provenance: Well preserved, with the mouth, short neck, broad shoulders, body, and foot intact. The relief decoration is clearly visible, with only minor signs of aging and small defects or wear on some raised details. The glaze is naturally soft, with slight stains and signs of long handling and display. The cobalt blue decoration ranges in color from light blue to dark blue-black, with the pigment concentrated at the edges of the raised areas and in the recesses. The broad, unglazed sandy base clearly shows signs of shaping and finishing, old soil deposits, stains, and natural wear. This piece comes from a private collection in California, USA, and was formerly owned by an overseas family. Description: This 42 cm giant plum vase is striking in its form, designed to treat the ceramic surface like a sculpture rather than merely a base for painting. The vessel has a small, flared mouth, a short neck, broad, rounded shoulders, a robust body, and gradually tapers towards the foot. Its proportions are classical and architecturally beautiful, but what truly captivates is the extensive use of three-dimensional relief decorations on the shoulders and body. The upper shoulder is adorned with scrolling vine reliefs, the tendrils winding and coiling across the curved surface, supporting the protruding leaves and flowers, giving the design a sculptural three-dimensional feel. Some shades of blue are softer, while others converge into deep navy blue and almost black tones, making the raised floral patterns more layered and visually impactful. The main body of the vessel is composed of large, irregularly shaped decorative panels, each decorated with multiple raised borders and delicate cobalt blue accents. Within the panels are densely painted auspicious lion motifs, weaving through the lush foliage. The plant patterns are stacked three-dimensionally, presenting an almost sculptural texture. One lion turns gracefully amidst the flowers, its head and body standing out from the surrounding vegetation. The eyes, nose, mane, and key anatomical features are all deepened in cobalt blue, making the figures clearly visible even against a backdrop of lush flowers. Layers of surrounding foliage create a realistic three-dimensional effect on the surface. As light moves across the vessel, these patterns cast subtle shadows, and the decorative effect changes with the viewing angle. This three-dimensional quality is one of the most striking features of the piece. Beyond the main decoration, the white glaze background is relatively blank, adorned with smaller floral motifs. This use of blank space is crucial. It provides a resting place for the viewer's eye, making the deeply carved central decoration appear more focused and dramatic. A narrow decorative band separates the main body from the lower half, followed by scrolling foliage and a series of thin vertical lines surrounding the lower half. These lines are outlined in cobalt blue and decorated with stylized cloud or ruyi patterns. Their vertical orientation follows the gradually narrowing contours of the vase, giving the lower half a solid visual structure. Throughout the vessel, cobalt enamel complements the relief carving. It doesn't simply fill large flat areas, but rather outlines the edges, converging in carved and shaped grooves to delineate the contours of flowers, leaves, lions, borders, and cloud patterns. This imbues the decoration with a strong graphic quality while retaining a three-dimensional feel. In some places, the cobalt enamel is highly concentrated during firing, forming deep blue-black areas with a subtle metallic sheen. Against the soft blue-white glaze, these dark accents make the raised decoration particularly striking. The neck and rim area are largely undecorated, creating a clean visual pause before the dense shoulder decoration begins. Viewed from above, the relief floral pattern unfolds outwards around the neck, emphasizing the width of the shoulder and lending the vessel a more dignified appearance. The glaze is soft and translucent, with natural smudging at the bottom of the raised sections and in the recesses. A large area of the base is unglazed, revealing the thick, light-colored porcelain body. Circular trimming marks, as well as ancient stains, soil deposits, and signs of long-term contact wear are still visible on the base. The rough base contrasts sharply with the exquisite glazed relief above, emphasizing the piece's weight and solidity. The auspicious lion holds a significant place in Chinese decorative art, symbolizing protection, authority, power, and warding off evil. When surrounded by lush floral branches, it signifies prosperity, vitality, and good fortune. Here, the lion is placed prominently within a large framed panel, transforming the surface into a series of sculptural narrative scenes. From an American collector's perspective, this piece possesses dual value as both ceramic and sculptural. Looking from the other end of the room, the viewer's eyes are first drawn to the vase's upright silhouette, striking framed decoration, and rich, deep blue relief. Upon closer inspection, the decoration on the vase becomes more intricate: leaves, petals, lion heads, beaded borders, scrolling patterns, and raised lines appear in layers. The skillful interplay of light and shadow, relief, cobalt blue, and white glaze gives this piece a rich texture unattainable by flat blue-and-white decoration. Its large size, exquisite reliefs, auspicious animal figures, and meticulously designed decorative structure make this piece a particularly noteworthy addition to any collection of Chinese ceramics.

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