Vase

Object Details

• Description

  Vase with globular body, tall slender neck; low foot. Monochrome -- lavender blue.

  Body: white porcelain, heavily potted.

  Glaze: thick, even, rich gray-blue with minute bubbles and even crackle stained brown; same inside footrim; white on lip and inside.

  Decoration: none; ferruginous dressing on unglazed footrim.

• Label

  Monochromes of the Kangxi period (1662–1722) are distinguished by elegant shape and by beauty of color and texture of glaze. The lavender blue glaze of this vase is covered with a second glaze which seals the crackles and imparts a subtle depth to the color.

• Provenance

  Prior to 1903

  Henry G. Marquand (1819-1902), New York, prior to 1903 [1]

  1903 to 1933

  Herman A.E. Jaehne [2]

  To 1947

  Allen J. Mercher, New York, to 1947

  From 1947

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Allen J. Mercher in 1947

  Notes:

  [1] According to Curatorial Remark 2, J.A.P. 1947: The recent history of this object is given in a letter from the dealer dated February 6, 1947; his account runs as follows: "Prior to 1903 this vase was owned by the late Henry Gurdon Marquand, who was President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art from 1889 to 1902.

  Mr. Marquand also used the Greek name of S'Henrici G. Mercatoris, and a private label bearing this latter name appears on the base of this vase.

  From 1903 to 1933 this vase was in the Collection of Herman A.E. Jaehne.

  It was on Loan Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum from Mr. Jaehne from 1929 to 1933 under their Museum Number L2915-2, which number also appears on the base of the vase."

  [2] See note 1.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Chinese Ceramics: Glazed Ceramics of the Tenth through Thirteenth Century (March 9, 1987 to July 19, 1988)

  Chinese Ceramics (March 15, 1982 to July 10, 1986)

  Chinese Art (March 9, 1981 to March 12, 1982)

  Chinese Ceramics (May 9, 1980 to March 6, 1981)

  Chinese Ceramics (April 11, 1978 to September 4, 1980)

  Chinese Art (January 1, 1963 to March 6, 1981)

  Yuan Chiang School, Chinese Paintings (April 12, 1963 to October 15, 1963)

  Centennial Exhibition, Gallery 13 (November 10, 1955 to March 1, 1957)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Henry Gurdon Marquand (1819-1902)

  Herman A. E. Jaehne

  Allen J. Mercher

• Origin

  Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1720s, 1660s

• Name

  Mercher, Allen J., Jaehne, Herman A. E., Marquand, Henry Gurdon

• Place

  China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen

• Topic

  Porcelain, Art, Kangxi reign (1662 - 1722), Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Ceramics, Jingdezhen ware

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)