Yuan Dynasty Blue‑and‑White Large Circular Box With Fish‑and‑Aquatic‑Weeds Motif

拍品描述

Dimensions: 11 cm high, 21 cm wide (0.361 ft high, 0.689 ft wide). Condition and Provenance: The lid and base are original. The rim of the lid shows slight glaze wear due to age, but there are no chips, cracks, or breaks. The underglaze blue decoration on the lid and body is clear and intact. The glaze has a smooth, antique sheen with a few scattered dirt spots. Wheel marks, kiln sand, and soil deposits are visible on the unglazed interior and base. The bare base shows natural aging cracks, all original historical traces. No modern restoration or chemical cleaning. This piece comes from the private collection of C.H. in San Francisco, California, USA. This collector specializes in Yuan dynasty underglaze blue porcelain. This piece was purchased in 1996 from an Asian antiques gallery in San Francisco and has been kept in a temperature and humidity controlled cabinet for two generations of the family. It has never been publicly auctioned or exhibited in a museum. Description: This large, round, covered box was fired in the Jingdezhen kilns during the Yuan dynasty. The box is flat and round, with a mortise and tenon joint structure, and is heavy and sturdy. The lid of the box is painted with a vivid fish and water scene, depicting two carp swimming among aquatic plants, duckweed, and lotus flowers. The details of the fish scales and fins are meticulously rendered, and the flowing aquatic plants and layered wave patterns create a rich and dynamic image. The sides of the lid are painted with unrestrained waves and cloud patterns, while the rim is decorated with scrolling grass patterns. The upper part of the box is decorated with a diamond-shaped band, and the lower part with neatly arranged, upward-spreading lotus petals. The interior is covered with a bluish-white glaze, revealing wheel marks and remnants of ancient clay. The unglazed sandy base shows a mixture of coarse clay, kiln sand, and accumulated dust—a typical characteristic of Yuan dynasty porcelain. The cobalt blue color is rich and deep, with natural rust spots visible where the pigment is applied thickly. The brushstrokes are bold and powerful, creating a richly layered visual effect. Complete Yuan dynasty blue-and-white fish and grass pattern boxes are extremely rare, representing important practical and decorative vessels that showcase the remarkable achievements of Jingdezhen porcelain craftsmanship and painting techniques during the Yuan dynasty.

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