Ming Dynasty Sacrificial Blue Glazed Covered Jar with Raised Fish & Aquatic Cloud Relief, Ming Dynasty, 14th–17th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions: Overall height 22 cm (8.66 inches), maximum belly diameter 16 cm (6.30 inches). Condition and Provenance: The jar and original lid are intact and undamaged, without cracks, chips, dents, or signs of repair. The entire jar is covered with a uniform cobalt blue glaze with a soft luster, showing only minor signs of aging, with no large areas of glaze peeling or flaking. The three-dimensional relief of the golden carp, cloud patterns, and water ripples is clearly visible against the blue glaze; the details of the fish scales and cloud patterns remain clear, without wear or damage. The white inner glaze at the rim of the jar is clean and flawless. The unglazed foot reveals milky white porcelain clay, dotted with naturally fired rust spots, presenting a dry and authentic antique porcelain clay texture, without artificial polishing or imitation patina. The edge of the lid fits tightly to the rim of the jar. This jar originally belonged to a Ming Dynasty antique collection in southern China, was exported from an antique gallery in Hong Kong in the 1990s, and is now owned by a private collector of Ming and Qing Dynasty porcelain in New York, USA. Description: This jar is a Ming Dynasty celadon porcelain vessel used for sacrificial purposes, decorated with relief fish and cloud patterns. It was widely used by both royalty and commoners for tea storage and decorative purposes. This particular jar is remarkably well-preserved and comes with its original lid, making it exceptionally rare. The jar's shape is dignified and elegant: a short, straight neck, a full, round belly, and a narrow foot rim, topped with an arched lid adorned with a peach-shaped knob. The overall proportions are harmonious, exuding elegance. The entire jar is covered in a high-temperature cobalt blue sacrificial glaze, presenting a deep, rich bluish-green tone with a soft, jade-like luster, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of Ming Dynasty celadon glaze. The three-dimensional, golden-brown carp swims amidst swirling auspicious cloud patterns and shimmering water; the fish's posture is lifelike, with meticulously detailed scales and fins. The winding cloud patterns create a striking visual contrast with the deep blue glaze. The fish pattern symbolizes abundance year after year in traditional Chinese culture, while the cloud and water patterns represent peace and good fortune—core auspicious decorative motifs in Ming and Qing Dynasty Chinese porcelain. The exposed foot rim reveals the dried, naturally aged clay, bearing authentic kiln rust and a small amount of clay crust—key identifying characteristics of Ming dynasty porcelain. Due to the strict control required for blue glaze firing, its surviving quantity is far less than that of blue and white porcelain. A well-preserved blue-glazed jar with a lid and complete three-dimensional relief decoration is extremely rare on the world's antique market and highly sought after by porcelain collectors in New York and the East Coast of the United States. It possesses three core values: crucial technical documentation of monochrome glaze firing in the Ming dynasty, timeless Chinese traditional auspicious decorative art, and stable long-term collectible asset value, making it ideal for permanent display in North American Chinese art galleries and private Oriental tea rooms.

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