Chinese « Past Imperfect, The Art of Inventive Repair

Posts Tagged ‘Chinese’

Nanking barrel form mug, c.1770

Monday, April 12th, 2010

Chinese export porcelain barrel form mug with cobalt blue underglaze Nanking decoration, measuring 5″ high. As this mug is the perfect size and shape for holding pencils, it sits on my home office desk as a pencil cup.

Visible cracks with metal staple repairs are seen all around the mug.

The rich cobalt blue underglaze decoration includes this beautifully rendered building.

This mug is a lucky survivor of much abuse over the past 240 years, as is evident from the various cracks, chips and a missing handle.

I have only seen a few examples of metal replacement handles covered in woven wire with a pattern emulating rattan.

Metal staples, painted white and blue to blend in to the glazed decoration, still hold the cracks tightly together.

This mug with similar form has its original handle, with a blue heart-shaped thumb rest, intact.

Photo courtesy of Earle D. Vandekar

Tags:blue & white, Chinese, metal handle, porcelain, staples/rivets
Posted in mug/tankard | 1 Comment »

Kangxi teapot, c.1690

Friday, April 9th, 2010

This unusual fluted beehive form (aka bell form) porcelain teapot from China was made during the Kangxi reign (1662-1723). It is decorated with a flowering plant design in blue under glaze, has an upright fixed handle and is raised on three small feet.

The stylized floral decoration in vivid cobalt blue is on each of the six panels.

Teapot measures 6-1/2″ high and has eluded me ever since I purchased it 15 years ago at the New York Coliseum Antiques Show, as I could not find any research on it.

At the time, it was one of the most expensive “make-dos” I had purchased, and it was my first piece adorned with a silver repair.

The replaced silver spout is of modest design, but was made by a silversmith sometime in the 1700s-1800s, and at considerable cost to the owner.

I was thrilled to have recently found this photo showing a complete, nearly identical teapot, shown here with its original lid and spout. This one sold at Christie’s in 2008 for more than four times the estimated price.

Photo courtesy of Christie’s

Tags:blue & white, Chinese, metal spout, silver
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Famille rose cream jug, c.1790

Friday, April 9th, 2010

My father gave me this Chinese porcelain baluster form sparrow beak cream jug for my 38th birthday.

It dates from the Qianlong period (1736-96) and measures 5″ high.

The sides are decorated with enamel floral decoration in the famille rose palette.

What really makes this piece exceptionable is the simply shaped, hallmarked sterling silver replacement handle.

I have not looked up these marks, but once I do I will be able to identify the maker and the year this handle was made. Until then, if anyone knows about these marks I would love to know.

This similar jug is missing its lid but still has its original handle, in the shape of a ruyi scepter.

Photo courtesy of Three Empires

Tags:Chinese, metal handle, porcelain, Qianlong, silver
Posted in jug | 1 Comment »

Famille rose teapot painted “en camaïeu”, c.1750

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Globular shaped porcelain teapot from China has a subtle, “en camaïeu” (monochromatic) iron-red enamel floral design in the famille rose style.

The same nicely painted decoration is found on both sides of the teapot.

Teapot was made for export to North America and Europe and stands 5-1/4″ tall.

When the spout broke off sometime in the late 1700s to early 1800s, the teapot was taken to a silversmith for replacement. A family of great wealth must have originally owned this piece, as the silver repair indicates.

Another example of a Chinese porcelain teapot with its original spout intact.

Photo courtesy of Pater Gratia Oriental Art

Tags:Chinese, metal spout, porcelain, silver
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Chinese export sauce boat, c.1780

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

I found this porcelain sauce boat nearly 20 years ago during my first “official” search for antiques with creative repairs in London, June 1991. Actually, this was one of a pair of matching sauce boats with identical replaced handles. Knowing I did not have enough money to purchase both pieces, the dealer split up the set and sold me just one. A lovely gesture that I appreciated at the time, but now I am sorry that someone lost out on the opportunity of owning the pair

This was one of four antiques with inventive repairs I found during that memorable trip. You can check out the other three pieces, which I have already posted: English copper lustre jug, Globular Chinese export teapot and Chinese “clobbered” saucer

The inside is painted in a famille rose underglaze floral design, and it measures 8″ from bow to stern, and is 2-3/4″ high. The sturdy replacement handle is made of forged iron

This example still has its original applied porcelain handle

Photo courtesy of Andrew Dando

Tags:Chinese, metal handle, porcelain
Posted in sauce boat | 1 Comment »

Yixing teapot, c.1830

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

This condensed globular form Chinese teapot was made from purple granular “zisha” clay (containing mica, quartz and iron) and found only in Yixing (pronounced ee-shing), in the east coast province of Jiangsu. Due to its unique self seasoning capabilities, after many years of use you can brew tea just by pouring boiling water into an empty pot

A metalsmith created a new lid out of brass after the original one broke or was lost. I love the simple hand-hammered form and delicately curled knob. Teapot measures 4″ high, 8″ wide

Chinese character maker’s marks are incised on the bottom. Please excuse me if I have shown the marks upside down

This example has its original lid, which is amazing, as it was recovered from the 1840 Desaru shipwreck, discovered in May 2001

Photos courtesy of Nanhai Marine Archaeology

Tags:Chinese, metal lid, pottery, Yixing
Posted in teapot | 1 Comment »

Mandarin mug with hunting scene, c.1750

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Chinese porcelain mug made for export during the Qianlong period, measures 5″ high

Decorated with panels depicting a hunting scene in the Mandarin style

With a beautifully painted cobalt blue Fitzhugh style border

The original handle was replaced with a gesso covered aluminum armature, painted to match the porcelain. Time has not been kind to the handle, as very little gesso remains with just a hint of color

This is what the original handle might have looked like

Photo courtesy of Andrew Dando

Tags:Chinese, Fitzhugh, metal handle, porcelain, Qianlong
Posted in mug/tankard | No Comments »

Porcelain teapot “en grisaille”, c.1750

Sunday, April 4th, 2010

This Chinese export porcelain teapot from the middle 19th century is globular in form and decorated “en grisaille” (painted in shades of gray) with gilt highlights along the top rim.

Teapot measures 3-3/4″ high.

The simply shaped original spout was replaced with a finely detailed bronze spout in the form of a serpent.

Another teapot decorated en grisaille, shown with original spout and lid.

Photo courtesy of Richard Gould Antiques

Tags:Chinese, globular, metal spout, porcelain
Posted in teapot | No Comments »

Sparrow beak cream jug, c.1750

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Chinese export pear shaped porcelain jug with sparrow beak from the mid-1700’s with multi color enamel decoration in the Mandarin style, stands 4″ tall.