Dish imitating a Song lacquerwork 仿宋漆器盤

Ceramics
China

Materials:

Porcelain

Technique:

Painted enamels and gold

Date:

Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Qianlong periode (1736-1795), dated 1774

Size:

Diam. 16,5 cm

Place of origin:

China, Jiangxi, imperial kilns of Jingdezhen

Mark:

Qianlong (1736-1795) mark: Da Qing Qianlong fanggu 大清乾隆仿古  ("...after the ancient") is written in gilt on the base.

Description:

A shallow saucer moulded in the shape of an open chrysanthemum flower, with petalled border and high spreading foot similarly foliated, and thinly potted. Inside and out are covered with a rich coral-red enamel imitation of red lacquer, the base being in lustrous black. Inside on the flat centre is written in gilt a poetic inscription of fifty-six characters, translatable as follows:

The lacquer craftsmen of Wuxia are of matchless skill and their imitations of ancient work can surpass even the original. For their forms they use neither wood nor tin, and the objects is achieved without either engraved work or polishing. The works of the finest masters rival those of Xie Qing, they have the colours of the immortals - such shades of vermilion and scarlet. In all things antiquity is the fitting model: here this dictum does not apply! My attempt at comprehending this work and singing its praises fills me with confusion. Imperial brush of Qianlong, in the jiawu year.

 Following the inscription are imperial seals "Qian" and "Long". The cyclic date jiawu corresponds to the year 1774.

Inventory number:

CB.CC.1930.647

Copyright:

Fondation Baur

Photographer:

Marian Gérard