Chenghua Period Ming Dynasty Dou‑cai “Tian” Mark Covered Jar with Dragon in Sea Waves

拍品描述

Dimensions：H.14cm Condition & Provenance：Original jar and cover, complete intact, no cracks or chips. Polychrome enamels well preserved, lustrous soft glaze, natural inherited patina on foot‑ring, no restoration, no chemical cleaning. From private collection of J·H, New York City, New York State, USA. Acquired in 2019, family inheritance under climate‑controlled storage, never appeared in public auction or museum exhibition. Description：This is an imperial dou‑cai covered jar with “Tian” mark of Chenghua reign, Ming dynasty, a representative imperial vessel of Chenghua kiln. Short neck, full rounded shoulder, bulging belly tapering downwards with well‑trimmed foot‑ring, fitted with original flat‑top cover. Underglaze‑blue single‑character “Tian” mark at base, elegant calligraphy typical of tian‑zi jars. Iron‑red lotus‑petal frieze decorates below mouth rim and above foot rim with sharp outline and deep antique tone. Main body painted in dou‑cai with dragon surging over ocean waves. Vigorous green‑painted rolling sea waves fill lower section, foamy crests expressed by reserved white space. Powerful yellow dragon with finely scaled body, flowing mane and sharp claws strides amid green auspicious clouds above surging waters. Cover rim adorned with iron‑red key‑fret border, cover side painted with green sea‑wave patterns, cover top decorated with dragon motif echoing jar body. Executed in classic dou‑cai technique: outlines drawn in underglaze‑blue, filled with yellow, green and iron‑red overglaze enamels. Cobalt blue tone is mild and tranquil, overglaze enamels fresh and mellow with precise colour‑filling and neat lines. Dragon‑and‑sea‑wave motif symbolizes peaceful realm and imperial dignity. Surviving Chenghua dou‑cai tian‑zi jars are extremely scarce. This jar possesses solid full form, well‑balanced composition and harmonious antique palette, embodying supreme porcelain‑making and painting craftsmanship of Ming Chenghua imperial workshop, with remarkable cultural relic and collectible value.

图片