Blue and White Vase with Twin Snake Motifs, Elephant Handles and Ruyi Base, Qing Dynasty 19th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions: 25.5 cm (10.04 inches) in height, 19th century Qing Dynasty. Condition and Provenance: This piece is in excellent condition, without cracks, glaze defects, or signs of repair. The body and glaze are tightly bonded. The cobalt blue pigment is rich and even, and all decorations are clearly visible with no obvious wear. The elephant-head handles are intact, the five-lobed ruyi-shaped base has a complete edge, and the unglazed foot rim shows only natural patina and signs of age, maintaining its original condition. This vase was initially collected in China and later exported to North America. It is now in the possession of a private collector of Qing Dynasty porcelain in California. California and New York were major global trading centers for Ming and Qing Dynasty porcelain. Description: This Qing Dynasty blue and white elephant-head vase is a high-quality example of folk kiln decorative porcelain. The piece is exquisitely shaped with distinct layers, an everted mouth, a tapering neck, a full waist, and a tapering lower body. The symmetrical, three-dimensional elephant-head handles are supported by a five-lobed ruyi-shaped base, giving the overall shape a dignified and stable appearance. The entire vase is covered in a soft blue-white glaze, smooth and delicate. Two intertwined snakes are painted in rich cobalt blue on the neck and body, surrounded by flame and cloud patterns. The snake scales are depicted with delicate and precise brushstrokes, creating a striking contrast with the flowing flame and cloud patterns. The rim and base are decorated with double-line bowstring patterns and curled ruyi patterns, arranged in a balanced and visually clear manner. The deep cobalt blue pigment matches the typical color of Zhejiang minerals from the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty, making the snakes lifelike. In traditional Chinese porcelain art, the double snake motif symbolizes peace and prosperity, while the elephant-ear handles represent harmony, adding a double auspicious meaning to this vase, making it an ideal interior decoration. The flower-shaped foot reveals the natural porcelain body, untouched by artificial aging, preserving the natural traces of time. This vase is well-preserved, uniquely shaped, and possesses both elegant interior decoration value and antique collection value, making it a highly sought-after piece among overseas collectors of Ming and Qing porcelain.

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