Ming Yongle Blue‑and‑White Pear‑Shaped Ewer with Interlocking Lotus Scroll

拍品描述

Dimensions: Height 30 cm (0.984 ft) Condition and Provenance: This pot is in perfect condition, with no cracks or damage to the body, spout, or handle. The glaze is a lustrous blue-white with natural signs of age. Slight signs of aging are present at the junction of the spout and body, and at the foot. The unglazed foot shows traces of ancient clay and a faint iron-red sheen, all in its original historical appearance. It has not undergone modern restoration or chemical cleaning. This pot comes from the private collection of B.H. in San Francisco, California, USA. The collector specializes in early Ming dynasty blue-and-white porcelain. This pot was purchased in 2000 from the West Coast Oriental Art Gallery in San Francisco. Passed down through two generations of the family, it has always been kept in a temperature- and humidity-controlled display case and has never appeared in public auctions or museum exhibitions. Description: This pot is a Ming dynasty Yongle period official kiln blue-and-white pear-shaped pot from the Jingdezhen kilns. It has a trumpet-shaped mouth, a slender neck, a pear-shaped body, and a wide foot. The long, curved spout is reinforced to the body with a cloud-shaped design; the curved handle, with a small hanging ring, is positioned on the other side of the body, creating an elegant overall shape typical of early Ming dynasty wine vessels. The neck below the spout is decorated with a lotus scroll pattern; the shoulder is bordered with ruyi cloud patterns. The body is primarily decorated with a large lotus scroll pattern, with layers of full, intricate lotus flowers accompanied by winding branches and leaves, creating a balanced composition with fluid and powerful brushstrokes. The outer side of the long spout is also painted with a matching lotus scroll pattern. A band of clearly defined, sharp, upright lotus petals adorns the base. The interior is glazed in a bluish-white glaze. The unglazed foot rim reveals fine, dense porcelain clay, with upright lotus petals decorating the outer side. This porcelain uses imported Sumari Blue, a cobalt blue pigment unique to the Yongle period, known for its rich, deep color. Natural iron rust spots and tin sheen are visible between the thick layers of pigment, along with a distinctive slight ink-like tint. The shape, decoration, and cobalt blue characteristics fully embody the quality of Yongle imperial porcelain. Well-preserved, it is an important practical display item of blue and white porcelain from the early Ming Dynasty.

图片