Beautiful Pair of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Vases. S. XIX. Kangxi Seal

Elegant pair of Chinese vases made of white and blue porcelain. These attractive pieces date from the early 20th century and are decorated by hand. White and blue porcelain is a classical style in Chinese wares production, and it started to be produced in the ninth century, when cobalt began being used to make blue pigment. In the 14th century, this kind of porcelain was mass-produced in Jingdehzen. White and blue porcelain reached its highest quality during the 17th and 18th centuries. These two vases have the Kangxi mark on their bases. Kangxi was a Chinese emperor who reigned between 1662 and 1722, when the white and blue porcelain technique was at its height. Both vases bear the same decoration, though we can see subtle differences between them which let us know that they have been painted by hand. The rear is decorated in deep blue with a light honeycomb pattern, and some flowers and leaves scattered on it. The front shows a traditional scene, where different characters dressed in traditional costumes play instruments in a country landscape. Three figures are sitting under a stylized flowery tree, while another one is dancing happily. On the left, another character is holding something that looks like an oil lamp. The scene creates a happy and relaxed feeling in a bucolic background. On the other side, the base, the neck and the mouth of the vases bear a decoration of symmetrical borders, quite sober and classical in style. Both pieces show the furnace mark, a brownish color which is produced by the heat generated in the firing process. All these details turn this pair of Chinese vases into a real collectors item, as decorative as special. Measurements: 200 mm width x 480 mm height.