Five Chinese Purple and White Vases

A rare and large Japanese Meiji period porcelain dish or charger. Japan, Late 19th – early 20th century. Why we like it Great scale combined with its traditional decoration make th...

A pair of Chinese Longquan ware vases in rare light-green celadon glaze, of the 12th–14th century Song or Yuan dynasty style. Fitted as lamps on gilt turned circular bases. Early to mid-20th century. The vases have the traditional pear-shaped bodies raised on slightly spreading feet, the waisted and flaring necks applied with two C-shaped dragon handles suspending large fixed rings, covered overall with a bluish-green glaze thinning to white at the edges and around the moulded peony scroll decoration. Why we like them We love the exquisite, individually hand-moulded decoration and the gentle colour of the glaze, in perfect harmony with the the flowing shape of the vases. History and Design Made in porcelain with raised moulded decoration under celadon glaze, and traditionally referred to as the Longquan ware, the design of these vases dates back to the 10th–14th century. Longquan celadon refers to ceramics produced in large kilns in Longquan, Jincun and other sites in Zhejiang Province on the east China seaboard as well as ceramics made elsewhere using the same techniques. The making of Longquan celadon dates back to the Northern Song...

Chinese blue-and-white porcelain has inspired ceramists worldwide since cobalt was first introduced to China from the Middle East thousands of years ago. Made in Beijing, this contem...

A large and powerful Chinese famille rose enameled porcelain "Five Dragon" meiping vase, modern, China. The oversized vase of traditional meiping form, with a splayed foot supporting a baluster shaped body with high shoulders, short, narrow neck, and rolled mouth rim. The large vase decorated with five dragons molded in relief. Their bodies painted in vibrant overglaze famille rose enamels of reds, greens, yellows and turquoise. The dragons portrayed dancing in the sky among flames and clouds. Their bodies twisting and writhing, claws extended, tails coiled, some with mouths open in triumphant roars. The main dragon in red, and portrayed to more directly face the viewer. The dragons dance against a white ground sky. The blank sky broken up by overglaze red painted stylized clouds and flames. The foot decorated with a band of crashing waves. A stylized lotus blossom surrounds the base of the neck. The neck with a band of scrolling flowers and vines against a yellow ground. The underside of the large vase with an apocryphal "Da Qing Qianlong Nian Zhi...