Decorative arts

Vase

Type: Decorative arts(Opens in new tab)
Date: 1662-1721
Accession number: 9.17
Maker: Unknown, Chinese(Opens in new tab) (Chinese)
Dimensions: overall: 30 x 9 1/2 in. (76.2 x 24.1 cm.)
Medium: porcelain
Description: A tall cylindrical vase that has a fine example of rouge de fer decoration under the glaze, with enamel colors in harmonious colorings over the glaze, which covers a pure white porcelain paste base. The body of the vase is decorated with "feng-huang," or Ho-Ho birds, with plumage of red, green, yellow and aubergine. One bird is partly hidden by rocks painted in various greens, aubergine and blue, whilst, springing from the back, are large branches of peonies with flowers colored in red, yellow, blue, and aubergine. To the left of the bird perched upon the rocks are two peonies and a bud in rouge de fer with green and blue foliage near the aubergine trunk of a peach-tree, whose flowers are mostly colored in rouge de fer, though a few are yellow, blue, aubergine and green. Below, at the base, is an amaryllis colored red with green leaves. The neck, divided from the body by a narrow black band, is decorated with flowers in similar colors, also rising from aubergine stems. Peonies and yulan magnolia are prominent. A glance at the illustration shows how artistically the decorator has applied the design to the surface at his disposal. Each flower, each leaf, has its value in the scheme of decoration; and, though the subjects appear to be limited in number, they are infinite in variety.
Credit: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
Department: Asian Art
Find out more: View in the Art Museum catalog(Opens in new tab)

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