Small garlic head vase with painted iron red chilong (chi dragon)

  • Asian Art Collection
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Title
Small garlic head vase with painted iron red chilong (chi dragon)
Date
1875 - 1950
Description
This small garlic head vase has a short and small dish-shaped mouth, a waisted neck, a slightly compressed globular belly and a tall footring. Its exterior is primarily decorated with three painted chilong (chi dragon) designs in iron red on a white background. Two chi dragons face each other on bottom while a third one descends on top. The representation of the chi dragons here is quite sophisticated and stylized. The Chi dragon is a type of dragon with two tails and without an antler. Sometimes, however, it is depicted with a horn as seen on this vase. It is believed to be an auspicious mythical creature that can exorcize evils and protect from disasters. The Qianlong emperor particularly adored the chi dragon design and considered it as xi (happiness). On the bottom of the tall footring there is a six-character reign mark "da qing yong zheng nian zhi" (Made during the Yongzheng Reign of the Great Qing; 1723-1735) in underglaze blue and two columns within a double-circle ring. However, this small garlic head vase is not a Yongzheng product. First of all, the shape of this vase is not after the Yongzheng model. Secondly, all characters of the reign mark are written in distinct hollow lines, a typical practice that frequently appears on recent copies. As such, this piece should be a later product, probably made during the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. Nonetheless, it displays a good grade of workmanship.
Genre
  • Artifacts
Measurement
Height: 20.3 cm; Diameter at mouth 2.8 cm; Original black wood stand
Medium
  • Porcelain, underglaze white, painted iron red, wood
  • Porcelain
Rights
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