Description
Painted on the shoulders of this mallet shaped vase in underglaze cobalt blue and copper red and brown are archaistic and highly stylized phoenixes. The undefined feathery bodies are draped on the shoulders of the vase, curling down towards the wide foot which is mounted with a European metal rim. Two phoenix heads emerge on the neck, holding rings between their beaks.
The year 1683 during the Kangxi reign (1662-1722) marks the return of the Imperial production of porcelain and the reinstitution of the Imperial kilns at Jingdezhen. A revival of imperial blue and white porcelain resulted in superbly crafted porcelains with well combined body, glaze, cobalt pigment, and skillful decoration. The revival also meant a return to traditional Chinese decorative styles of the Ming and Song dynasties.
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