Ming Yongle Blue‑and‑White Square Vase with Beast‑Handles and Fruit Sprig Motifs, Yongle Period, Ming Dynasty

拍品描述

Dimensions: Height 0.558 ft (17 cm). Condition and Provenance: The vase is intact and undamaged, without cracks or hidden fine lines. The rim shows only minor signs of age, without any chips or dents. The glaze exhibits a natural patina; rust spots and faint cobalt blue seepage are visible in areas rich in pigment, with a few scattered spots of old soil, but no significant glaze loss. The unglazed foot reveals a dry clay body with a genuine clay crust, and the original wheel marks are clearly visible. No restorations, glaze repairs, or additional pigments. This piece comes from the private collection of Mr. G.K. of Dallas, Texas, USA. Acquired during New York Asia Week in 1991, it has been passed down through two generations of the family and stored in a temperature- and humidity-controlled private vault. It has never been consigned for auction, has no record of public exhibition, and has never been loaned to any museum. Description: This blue-and-white square vase is a fine decorative altar vase from the early Ming Dynasty, during the Yongle period. The vase has a straight mouth, a short neck, and symmetrical animal-head shaped handles on both sides, giving it a powerful and three-dimensional form. The outer neck is decorated with lingzhi (reishi mushroom) patterns, executed with fluid brushstrokes. The body is rounded with a square neck and sharp angles. The four sides of the body are left blank, decorated with lush pomegranate branches and leaves; the spaces between the branches and leaves are filled with wave patterns. The foot flares outwards and is decorated with lotus petal patterns. The entire vase is covered with a thick, glossy, bluish-white glaze. The cobalt blue glaze is rich and deep, with rust-colored spots and the characteristic blurring effect of Yongle porcelain visible in the darker areas. The porcelain body is fine and solid, and the exposed foot reveals dry, sandy clay, showcasing the exquisite finishing techniques of Ming dynasty porcelain. This vase combines roundness and squareness, with an elegant and compact shape, balanced composition, and vivid painting, making it a high-quality small blue-and-white porcelain treasure from the Yongle period.

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