Blue White Porcelain Phoenix Head Flask Yuan Dynasty

A 14th Century Yuan Blue and White Phoenix Head Flask drawn with  wings of phoenix features and scrolls of flowers enhancing the beauty of the flask.

Yuan Dynasty Blue White China Porcelain

It was only during the early part of the Yuan Dynasty that the underglazed blue technique was finally perfected at Ching-te Chen, possibly with the help of potters from nearby Chi Chou who had been using the underglazed decorative technique but based on brown/black iron oxide since the Southern Sung period. From early examples of Yuan blue-and-white it would  appear that the underglazed blue technique was initially used on a Ying Ch’ing or Shu Fu type porcelain body.

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China Blue White Porcelain Early Development

Exactly when Chinese blue-and-white China Porcelain was first produced is still a subject of fervent debate among ceramic experts. Chinese tradition has it that blue-and-white was first developed in the Sung Dynasty (960-1279), then refined and put into commercial production in the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368) and finally reached its peak of aesthetic maturity in the early Ming period (1368-1644).

However, the current opinion among most Western ceramics experts is that Chinese blue-and-white was only started in the first half of the 14th century, some time just before the middle of the Yuan Dynasty between 1322 and 1330.

Ming Dynasty Blue White Plate

LARGE DISH, with a central decoration of peonies and a rock, surrounded by a narrow cloud
collar, a lotus scroll in the cavetto and a classic scroll on the flattened, foliate rim.

The outside decorated with a peony scroll. Base unglazed. Diameter 52 cms. Early Ming,
early 15th century.

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Chinese Blue White Yuan Porcelain

China Porcelain Blue White Kwan Jar

Remarkable design with an open art work panels framing copper red flowers and cobalt blue leaves.
Lotus panels at the bottom of the jar projecting aupicious valuable piece of treasure.

Yuan dynasty noted for heavy density ware with rich meticulous drawing  far superior to  those in the later part of Ming Dynasty which could not make up for such a value.

Five claws dragon are meant for imperial use.  Commoners found using these
5 claws designed wares are put to death.

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Late Ming Blue and White Wares

In the late Ming period during the reign of Wan Li (1567-1620), large numbers of blue-and-white were produced for the domestic and export markets and although some of the quality and craftsmanship has given way to quantity many still have a good clear glaze with lively decoration in dark blue.
Wan Li Ming Dynasty 16th Century

Late Ming blue-and-white is very commonly found in Southeast Asia and forms the largest section of this Exhibition. Many were made in South China in Kwangtung and Fukien provinces and exported through the port of Swatow, thus giving rise to the name “Swatow ware”.  This ware is heavily potted and boldly decorated often with freely drawn floral scrolls,  dragons, phoenixes, ch’ilin or other mythical beasts. The dishes are sometimes found with  Chinese inscriptions and occasionally with rather poorly written Arabic script as if the Chinese decorator was mechanically copying the foreign script without knowing what he was
writing. The bases of “Swatow wares” are typically roughly finished and partially glazed, often with sand adhering.

Large jars for storage purposes were also exported in large numbers to Southeast Asia.

Many of these export wares may also have been used in China. There is a large gap in our knowledge of the ordinary blue-and-white domestic wares used within China. Chinese literary writers did not consider these humble porcelains, made for the ordinary people, worth writing about. They must have been in everyday use in China and at the same time many were exported, particularly to the Southeast Asian area.

In China, as with all domestic wares in constant use, these vessels have long ago been broken and replaced, but overseas they were treasured and preserved. Valued for the life-time of their owners, they were then either buried with them or handed down from generation to generation.

Many of the export/ domestic wares in this Exhibition come from Indonesia, having been dug up by local people aware of the commercial value to the antique trade; or turned up in excavations for major agricultural and utility development projects; unfortunately, very often the provenance or related material has been lost forever.


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Blue White China Porcelain of Qing Dynasty

During the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe there was the “Chinoiserie” fashion for things Chinese, or what the Europeans believed to be Chinese looking, and large quantities of Chinese blue-and-white with pseudo-Chinese designs were exported to Europe.

After the reign of Ch’ien Lung, China entered into a period of political and economic uncertainty with increasing foreign intervention and domestic upheaval. This turbulent period saw a gradual decline in the quality of Chinese porcelain produced.

In fact, the kilns at Ching-te-Chen were destroyed by the Tai Ping rebels in 1853 and were not rebuilt until 1864. Nevertheless, throughout the later Ch’ing period, Chinese blue-and-white continued to serve as the basic utilitarian ware for everyday use among the countries of Southeast Asia and substantial quantities were exported, some of which were specially decorated to suit the tastes of specific markets such as Thailand and Vietnam.

Towards the end of the Qing dynasty during the Kuang Hsu period (1874-1908) there was a revival in the quality of porcelain and some very fine porcelains were produced during the  closing years of imperial China.

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Qing Dynasty Blue White Porcelain Food Container

Qing Dynasty Food Container

• Bamboo shaped handles of lid and down the sides.
• Later Ch’ing (Qing) 19th century.

These covered jars and food container were in everyday use in China and were also exported to the Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia.

An ideal glaze was perfected in which all traces of the blue/greenish tinge had finally been removed during the Qing Period (1644-1912). This combined with the refined porcelain body produced a pure white jade-like finish in the undecorated parts and gave a crystalline depth and scintillating tone to the blue painting underneath.

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Yuan Dynasty, Early 14th Century Blue White Porcelain

However, in contrast to the restrained classical taste of the Sung court, the new Mongolian rulers’ disinterested attitude in the arts provided a more liberal artistic environment which was conducive to creative experimentation and new directions in decorative styles. The single most important ceramic development during the Yuan period was the successful use of imported cobalt blue for painting under a clear glaze to produce blue-and-white porcelain.


TWO SMALL CUPS, painted outside with  chrysanthemum scrolls; in the inside one cup decorated with the character “shou” “Longevity”  and key fret pattern and the other with a flower  and classic scrol. Bases unglazed. Heights 7.7cms.
Yuan Dynasty, early 14th century.


SQUARE WATERPOT, with two small dragons as handles on the top. decorated on each side with chrysanthemum. Base unglazed. Height 5.5 cms. Yuan  Dynasty,early 14th century.


TWO JARLETS, each with two ring handles on the neck, decorated outside with chrysanthemum scrolls. Height 5.5 cms. Yuan Dynasty, early 14th century.


TWO STAR-FRUIT SHAPED JARLETS, eight sided each with a pair of small ring handles on the neck,  painted outside with chrysanthemum sprays. Base  unglazed. Height 5.5 cms. Yuan Dynasty, early 14th  century.

BIRD FEEDER, with a small ring handle on the shoulder, decorated outside with a chrysanthemum  scroll. Height 4 cms. Yuan Dynasty,early 14th  century.
BlueWhiteYuanDynastyPorcelain

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Nagel 13 September 2011

Nagel’s auction “Rugs and Carpets, Textiles” will take place 13 September 2011 in Stuttgart. Their catalogue is online. Included in the auction is a Ningxia pillar rug from Northwest China, late 19th century. The price is estimated at 1,500 EUR.

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