Posts Tagged ‘Qianlong’

Qianlong cream jug, c.1750

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

A lovely porcelain baluster form cream jug with sparrow beak spout, decorated in the Famille Rose palette. Made in China during the Qianlong period (1736-96) for export to North America and Europe, when fine porcelain was in high demand

The delicate ornamentation rendered in polychrome enamels depicts a cashpot, itself decorated, and spilling with flowers, vines and a pumpkin

Jug stands 3-1/2″ tall, minus its lost cover

When this jug was dropped and its handle lost, it was brought to a metalsmith who fashioned a replacement handle from bronze. The scroll shape of the new handle, more elaborate in form than its predecessor, suggests it was forged in the early to mid-1800’s

This cream jug, from the same period and of similar form and decoration, has its original cover and handle intact

Photo courtesy of  Guest & Gray

Nanking reticulated basket, c.1750

Friday, June 18th, 2010

This HEAVY Chinese pierced porcelain basket for fruit or chestnuts has numerous crudely executed cut out holes for ventilation. It dates from the Qianlong period (1736-95) and is boldly decorated in a cobalt blue underglaze decoration of flowers and medallions

Basket measures 12″ long, 9″ deep, 3″ high

The central floral motif is beautifully rendered but the border design is painted in a more rustic style and was perhaps done by another artist

Due to the extreme weight of this piece, it took a restorer 29 metal staples to repair the bottom alone…

17 staple repairs and 5 metal clips (some with blue and white paint to help mask the metal intrusions) to repair the sides…

and a single metal bolt to hold together one of the handles, for a surprising total of 52 separate repairs. So far, this basket holds the record for the highest number of staple repairs on a single piece!

“Port scene” Qianlong mug, c.1780

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

I seem to have many Chinese export mugs in my collection, including this large one with an intricately painted Mandarin port scene. I purchased this, along with another large mug, in London last year.

I love the stylized cobalt blue underglaze border along the rim and the beautiful colors of the famille rose palette, highlighted with gilt detailing.

Mug proudly stands 6-1/4″ high and is 5-1/4″ in diameter.

It is possible that the fine rope covering on the bronze replacement handle was itself replaced, after a more typical rattan covering wore out over many years of use.

The bottom of the mug has an early hand painted “25” mark, possibly a dealer’s price or inventory number.

This mug with similar form and decoration still has its original porcelain handle intact.

Photo courtesy of Mimi’s Antiques

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

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

Globular “Mandarin” teapot with double repairs, c.1750

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Chinese export porcelain teapot, from the Qianlong period (1736-1795), has a Mandarin design painted in the famille rose color palette. Teapot measures 7-3/4″ long by 4-3/4″ high.

The same nicely detailed hand painted decoration in polychrome enamels is found on both sides of the teapot.

Aside from a few nibbles on the end, the original porcelain spout has escaped major damage.

Teapot has a double repair, as both the lid and handle have been replaced with hollow tin, gessoed and painted to match the body. These repairs seem to have been done in the early 1900’s and the enamel color, once matching the white porcelain color,  has darkened over the years.

Most of the once white enamel which covered the replacement lid has worn away, revealing bare metal.

This Mandarin teapot maintains its original handle and lid.

Photo courtesy of EastWest Gallery

Large Chinese Qianlong mug, c.1760

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

This large Chinese porcelain mug from the Qianlong (pronounced SHEEN-LOONG) period is from the mid-1700’s and is decorated in the Mandarin style with polychrome enamels.

Mug measures 5-3/4″ high and has a finely painted courtyard scene, wrapping around three sides.

I love when there are multiple repairs on one object and this mug boasts three different types of inventive repair, including an incised bronze collar to mask chips along the rim.

A wicker wrapped bronze replacement handle stands in for the long lost original porcelain handle. Just below the brass collar are metal staples which stabilize a vertical crack.

The original handle was simply shaped, much like the one pictured below.

Photo courtesy of Guest & Gray

Qianlong sparrow beak cream jug, c.1760

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

Chinese porcelain cream jug with cover was made for export and measures 5″ high.

A skillful artist painted the floral decoration with polychrome enamels in the famille rose palette.

The original porcelain handle was replaced over 100 years ago with a woven rattan covered metal handle.

This jug shows what the simple-shaped porcelain handle would have looked like on my jug before it was repaired.

Photo courtesy of Cleij Oriental Art

Chinese export porcelain tea caddy, c.1775

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

A porcelain tea caddy with sloped shoulders and rectangular body, made in China in the third quarter of the 1700s for export to North America and Europe.

The hand painted cobalt blue decoration with gilt highlights is in the “Jesuit” floral pattern.

A painted metal lid with embossed star & collar replaces the original floriform finial lid.

Tea caddy dates from the Qianlong period (1736-95) and measures 5″ high by 3-1/4″ wide.

This intact tea caddy with similar form and decoration still maintains its original floriform finial lid.

Photo courtesy of Eldred’s