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Source Description

This "three-string" vase (sanxian ping) can be categorized by its tall body, tapering in from the high shoulders to a round foot, a slender neck with slightly flared rim, and more notably by the three rings molded into the base of the neck. These rings emerge from the mottled pink and red peach bloom glaze which covers the surface. Sprays of green appear on the mouth and where the neck meets the shoulder. This spotting was achieved by blowing a copper-oxide glaze on to the vase and covering that with a clear glaze; when fired, the inconsistent spray of copper would create various shades of red or oxidize green. The finest of peach bloom wares date to the latter half of the Kangxi reign (1662-1722), produced at the Imperial kilns at Jingdezhen. The glaze's delicate modulation of color suited its application on sets of petite porcelains for the scholar's writing table, including small flower vases, brush washers, and boxes for seal paste.This vase is the sister to another infamous "three-string" vase in the collection (Walters 49.155), both purchased from the Morgan Auction sale in New York (1886).

Scholar Source Context

Document identity
localId
14771
label
""Three-String"" Vase
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
4
Source metadata
id
14771
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
""Three-String"" Vase
description
This "three-string" vase (sanxian ping) can be categorized by its tall body, tapering in from the high shoulders to a round foot, a slender neck with slightly flared rim, and more notably by the three rings molded into the base of the neck. These rings emerge from the mottled pink and red peach bloom glaze which covers the surface. Sprays of green appear on the mouth and where the neck meets the shoulder. This spotting was achieved by blowing a copper-oxide glaze on to the vase and covering that with a clear glaze; when fired, the inconsistent spray of copper would create various shades of red or oxidize green. The finest of peach bloom wares date to the latter half of the Kangxi reign (1662-1722), produced at the Imperial kilns at Jingdezhen. The glaze's delicate modulation of color suited its application on sets of petite porcelains for the scholar's writing table, including small flower vases, brush washers, and boxes for seal paste.This vase is the sister to another infamous "three-string" vase in the collection (Walters 49.155), both purchased from the Morgan Auction sale in New York (1886).
provenance
Mrs. Mary Morgan, New York; Mrs. Mary J. Morgan Sale, American Art Association, March 8, 1886, lot 342; purchased by William T. Walters, Baltimore, 1886; inherited by Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1894; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.
date
1710-1722
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Ceramics
vases
flower vases
imageCount
4
pageCount
4
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
19.6
height
8
dimensionsRaw
H: 7 11/16 × Diam: 3 1/8 in. (19.6 × 8 cm); H on base: 9 13/16 × Diam: 3 1/4 in. (25 × 8.2 cm); Base H: 3 3/8 × Diam: 3 1/4 in. (8.6 × 8.2 cm).
Source extras
cul
Chinese
inscriptions
[Reign Mark] In blue underglaze: da qing kang xi nian zhi
dynasty
Qing Dynasty
reign
Kangxi (1662-1722)
RelatedObjects
4668
med
porcelain with peach bloom glaze
creator_ids
6238
collection_ids
CHN
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
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1
type
photo
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type
photo
mediaId
dceb1e4a008428b9
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no
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no
seq
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type
photo
mediaId
b7ba3d13a0fd3929
hasOcr
no
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seq
4
type
photo
mediaId
b67636416acf441f
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no