Dynasty, Yongle Period Blue-and-White Large Jar with Auspicious Fruits and Flowering Sprays

拍品描述

Dimensions 28.5 cm (approximately 11.22 in); Yongle Period, 15th centuryCondition and Provenance in well-preserved condition, retaining its complete straight mouth, short neck, broad shoulders, rounded body, and base. The shaped floral panels around the shoulder, auspicious fruit sprays across the body, and scrolling border near the foot remain clearly defined. The cobalt ranges from softer gray-blue to saturated indigo, with darker iron-rich deposits and natural firing diffusion visible in selected areas of heavier pigment. The glaze has a mellow bluish-white tone with minor surface wear, light staining, and traces consistent with long-term handling and display; light old wear is visible around the mouth and foot. The interior is glazed in a pale bluish white and retains visible throwing lines. The broad unglazed sanded base shows trimming, scraping, and finishing marks, together with old earthen deposits, staining, and natural contact wear. From a private collection in Texas, United States, with a history of family ownership overseas.Description Yongle-period blue-and-white jar stands 28.5 cm high and has the broad, confident proportions that make early Ming jars especially effective as display objects. The vessel is formed with a straight mouth, short neck, full rounded shoulders, a swelling body, and a lower section that gradually tapers toward the base. The profile feels substantial and grounded, but the transition from shoulder to foot remains smooth and controlled. The neck is deliberately restrained, decorated primarily with fine cobalt lines. This quiet upper section allows the shoulder decoration to take visual control. Around the shoulder are large shaped reserves with double-line borders, each containing an individual flowering spray. The outlines curve in and out in a ruyi-like rhythm, creating an elegant ornamental frame. Inside, blossoms and leaves are painted with an open, natural arrangement rather than being packed tightly into the available space. The result is a series of small botanical vignettes that circle the vessel. The body is devoted to separate sprays of auspicious fruits, including pomegranates, lychees, peaches, and other fruiting branches traditionally associated with prosperity, abundance, long life, and family continuity. Each fruit type is handled differently. The pomegranates are full and rounded, their forms emphasized with denser cobalt and strong foliage; lychees appear in clustered sprays, with the surfaces suggested through small dots and short strokes; peaches are broad and softly shaped, paired with elongated curling leaves. The branches move freely across the pale ground and give each fruit spray the feeling of an individual botanical study. One of the strongest aspects of the composition is the amount of open white space. The painter does not force the fruit sprays together into a continuous dense pattern. Instead, each branch is allowed to occupy its own field, which makes the individual fruits easy to identify and gives the entire jar a calm, balanced rhythm. This more spacious organization is particularly effective on the broad rounded body, where the decoration can be appreciated one group at a time as the jar is turned. Near the base, a continuous scrolling floral band creates a more formal and rhythmic finish. Curling stems move from one unit to the next, supporting stylized leaves and floral forms. This uninterrupted lower border contrasts with the isolated fruit sprays above and gives the vessel a strong visual foundation. Fine blue lines at the bottom complete the composition and reinforce the profile of the foot. The cobalt has considerable tonal range. Some passages are painted in a soft gray-blue, while flower centers, fruit details, leaves, and reserve borders deepen to a richer indigo. In selected areas where the pigment is more concentrated, darker iron-rich spots and firing-related diffusion are visible. These changes in tone keep the painting lively and give the branches and fruits greater dimensionality. The glaze has a softly bluish-white cast and a mellow surface that works particularly well with the deep cobalt. The contrast is strong but not harsh.

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