A Pair of Qing Dynasty Pea-Green Glaze Blue and White Vases with Lion and Phoenix Motifs,19th Century Qing Dynasty

拍品描述

Measurements:Total height 59 cm / 23.23 inches, mouth diameter 19.5 cm / 7.68 inches, 19th Century Qing Dynasty, Category: Ming & Qing Porcelain, Primary trading markets: California, New York, TexasCondition & Provenance:This matching pair of large display vases features perfectly symmetrical matching forms. The whole body is covered with soft pea-green ground glaze with glossy, smooth finish. Only faint natural yellowish discoloration can be seen on the outer wall of the left vase, no glaze peeling, penetrating cracks or hidden fractures exist. Three-dimensional blue and white lion-shaped handles are molded on both sides of each vase, fully intact with steady blue pigment tone. Only tiny minor age wear appears on the edges of the lion handles, no breakage or restoration work. The front surface is painted with auspicious lions, phoenixes, cloud and longevity character patterns in underglaze blue. The blue pigment shows rich light and dark gradient layers with smooth, unbroken painting lines, no heavy fading or worn-off patterns. The inner mouth rim stays clean with only tiny normal aged porcelain brown pinprick spots. The base foot reveals raw clay with dry, antique texture and a natural ring of reddish firing rust; only extremely thin, shallow minor fine lines sit at the center bottom, purely natural aging marks. No post-restoration such as repainting, glaze patching or adhesive bonding has ever been done; the pair survives fully intact as an original matching set. This vase pair was first consigned by a long-standing antique Chinese porcelain gallery in Dallas, Texas back in 2016, then acquired in 2018 by a veteran private collector of Chinese antique ceramics based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. It has been displayed in a climate-controlled low-light exhibition room with consistent humidity maintenance all year round, never refinished or professionally repaired, retaining its fully original antique patina and complete matching set condition.Object Description:This set includes a matched pair of large plate-mouth vases dating back to the Tongzhi reign of the 19th-century Qing Dynasty, classic grand hall display porcelain from late Qing folk kilns, and intact surviving matching pairs like this are extremely rare on the antique market. The shape follows the traditional plate-mouth, narrow neck design with an elongated, rounded bulbous body and outward flaring base foot. Symmetrical three-dimensional molded small lion handles coated in blue and white glaze attach to both sides of the neck, delivering strong sculptural relief texture. The entire vessel is evenly coated with soft pale pea-green glaze as the base, a popular characteristic monochrome ground glaze style widely used in mid-to-late Qing porcelain. The neck area is decorated with underglaze blue phoenix artwork with elaborate curled feather details and delicate fluid brush lines. The main central belly panel features an auspicious lion walking among clouds, with finely carved fur and scale grid textures. Surrounding swirling cloud patterns and endless longevity symbols fill the background, carrying symbolic meanings of harmonious dragon-phoenix union, auspicious beast blessing and enduring fortune & longevity. The cobalt blue pigment is pure with stable emerald-blue color tone, featuring distinct light-dark ink wash layering, representative of fine-grade late Qing folk kiln blue and white painting craftsmanship. The wide flared plate mouth provides optimal viewing for display. The inner cavity is covered with plain white glaze, supported by thick, dense solid porcelain body. The exposed raw clay at the base foot shows coarse, dry antique texture with natural unartificial firing rust red rings. Matching pairs of pea-green glaze blue and white large vases are scarce collectibles. Fully intact sets without damage, crisp complete patterns and unbroken original lion handles are highly sought-after pieces among international collectors specializing in Ming and Qing Chinese porcelain. They deliver combined value including grand interior display functionality, profound traditional auspicious cultural symbolism and mature late Qing porcelain manufacturing craft.

图片