A VERY LARGE UNDERGLAZE COPPER-RED-DECORATED BOTTLE VASE, KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)

Elegantly potted in one piece, with a smooth transparent glaze, the unglazed base with concentric rings in slight relief, the inner of the neck unglazed as well

China, Kangxi period (1662 – 1722)

The pear-shaped body rising from a round convex base to a tall cylindric neck with a small opening, masterfully painted with three running mythical beasts, a bixie, a buddhist lion and a deer, implying power, avoidance of evil spirits and nobility, in soft copper-red silhouettes, their eyes dramatically picked out in underglaze blue.

The use of copper-red at Jingdezhen was revived under the Kangxi Emperor after the decline in its usage after the 15th century in his quest to reproduce classic Ming porcelain designs. The high level of technical knowledge of the potters is evident in their ability to control the temperamental copper-red pigment to produce finely painted and fired wares. The present vase is an outstanding example for this ability as the simple yet skillfully applied brush strokes, in which the three mythical animals have been executed, are still clearly visible.

Shape: Bottle vase
Weight: 2478 grams
Dimensions: Height 48,5 cm
Condition: Perfect condition
Provenance: Austrian private collection

Literature comparison: See also smaller vases of this type, such as one in the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, illustrated in Kangxi Porcelain Wares from the Shanghai Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1998, pl. 79; another included in the exhibition The Wonders of the Potter’s Palette. Qing Ceramics from the Collection of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1984, catalogue number 9.

Auction result comparison: IMPORTANT CHINESE ART. Sotheby’s, 09 NOVEMBER 2016, LONDON, lot 144. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. Christies, London, 11 May 2010, lot 245. (both for related vases)

康熙年間釉裡紅描金神獸長頸瓶
瓶身高貴典雅，釉料光滑透明，底部及頸內均無上釉。
中國，康熙年間 (1662-1722年)
梨形長頸瓶身上彩繪了三只神獸，貔貅、雄鹿以及青獅，眼睛被釉下藍彩特別點綴，象徵貴族的權力及祈求遠離惡靈的紛擾。
十五世紀後，銅紅紋飾工法一度沒落，直到康熙年間再次復興。康熙帝希望重現經典明代瓷器風，景德鎮因而重新開始燒製紅釉瓷器。此工藝要求製陶工匠精準掌控釉料與火候，燒製精美成品，其高超技藝在此體現得淋漓盡致。
形狀：長頸瓶
重量：2478克
尺寸：高48.5厘米
品相完美
奧地利私人收藏
文獻參考：一有較小相似瓶，收藏於上海博物館，載於《上海博物館藏康熙瓷圖錄》，香港，1998年，圖版79；另一例曾於1984年在香港藝術館展覽「清瓷薈錦：香港藝術館清代陶瓷」上展出，編號9
類似拍品：蘇富比《重要中國珍品》，2016年11月9日，倫敦，物品編號144。佳士得《中國瓷器及工藝精品》，倫敦，2010年5月11日，編號245。