Beaker-shaped vase

Historical period(s)
Qing dynasty, Kangxi reign mark and period, 1662-1722
Medium
Porcelain with clair de lune glaze
Style
Jingdezhen ware
Dimensions
H x Diam: 18.7 × 11.3 cm (7 3/8 × 4 7/16 in)
Geography
China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen
Credit Line
Bequest of Libbie Moody Thompson
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1991.13
On View Location
Freer Gallery 13: Looking Out, Looking In: Art in Late Imperial China
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Vase

Keywords
China, Jingdezhen ware, Kangxi reign (1662 - 1722), porcelain, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), reign mark, WWII-era provenance
Provenance

To ?
Mr O. [1]

To 1990
Libbie Moody Thompson (1897-1990), Galveston, Texas. [2]

From 1990 to 1991
Estate of Libbie Moody Thompson. [3]

From 1991
Freer Gallery of Art, bequeathed by Libbie Moody Thompson. [4]

Notes:

[1] See Curatorial Remark 4 in the object record.

[2] See receipt dated June 13, 1991, copy in object file, Collections Management Office.

[3] See note 2.

[4] See note 2. Also see Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List after 1920 file, Collections Management Office.

Previous Owner(s)

Estate of Libbie Moody Thompson
Mr. O.
Libbie Moody Thompson

Label

The Chinese describe the cool, blue-tinged white glaze of this beaker as "moon white," which Western collectors translated into French as "clair de lune." The shape of the trumpet-mouthed vessel, including the bulging midsection and the details of the cross marks near the foot, imitates a Chinese bronze vessel called a gu, used as early as the Shang dynasty (ca. 1700-1050 BCE). The pale glaze also reflects antiquarian interests in its reference to some of the subtle monochrome glazes popular during the Song dynasty (960-1279).

Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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