Details
A COPPER RED-DECORATED BLUE AND WHITE BOTTLE VASE
20TH CENTURY
The vase is decorated with a continuous scene of figures in pavilions and boats beside trees in a mountainous river landscape. The base with a double circle in underglaze blue.
17 in. (43 cm.) high
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Lot Essay

Underglaze copper red decoration is valued because its difficulty to control in the firing process. The copper-based pigment needs to contain the right amount of copper oxide and be fired in a reducing atmosphere at a certain temperature. If any of these factors is not right, the colour misfires, and could turn grey, black, or brown.

Since its inception in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) to its growing popularity in the Ming and the Qing dynasties, this pigment has been highly prized because it is difficult to master, but when successful, the potter and patron is presented with an unparalleled vibrant bright red.

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