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I have just pick up this transmutation/flambe glazed ‘water-chestnut’ shaped bottle vase from my restorers, H 35.2 cm, probably L18th century.
The foot rim is slightly ground and base unglazed. Upon the base are four ink characters, standing for the four cardinals, South/West/East - the North character is illegible.
Although pieses with base ink inscriptions are know, I understand that it is very unusual to see the cardinals written. These possible indicates this vase may have been an alter vessel, the cardinals representing the correct directional placement within the setup with reference to the object or decoration contained by the vase?!
I wonder if anyone else has seen another piece with similar base ink cardinals?!
Attached images include two images before restoration, rather interesting thick cloth strips glued to inside neck!!
Stuart.
Stuart, that is a very nice vase. I like that the inscriptions on the base have a compass relationship. I also notice four double character markings, could they be the traditional markings of the four celestial animals that form the traditional Chinese directions. These applied before the now standard cardinal directions?
Indeed, very beautiful. I don't recall having seen anything described as "water chestnut" shape, before I also find the foot markings very interesting and have not come across that, either.
All very intriguing, thanks for sharing! ?
I saw a copper red bowl on Ebay recently with black painted marks on the base .
Carl
Hi Ronm -
Thank you very much for your thoughts! I will have to do some more research into these other characters, but your theory regarding some connection to the four celestial animals is entirely possible. Someone has suggested the characters probably have a ritual significance so that the vase would be placed in the correct direction, possible within a Daoist's alter setting?! But this also requires further investigation ...
Hi Julia -
Thank you, my pleasure to share! These 'water-chestnut' shape vases were first introduced in the Kangxi period, and there are several different shape types know. The shape and proportions underwent various changes during the Yongzheng/Qinglong periods.
Stuart
Hi Carl -
Thank you very much for this information, most interesting - can you remember what these may have read, or if a link to this bowl is still available?!
Stuart
I found the piece i saw on Ebay , I am not sure it will be any help as i remembered it differently .
Carl
Again not similar but Jan Erik has a piece with ''Rare handwriting '' 18th century at the top of this page.
Carl
Hi Stuart,
Beautiful vase. Looks like the restorer did a very nice job. The characters on the base are fascinating. I love unusual things like that, especially involving script/characters. I’m not familiar with “water chestnut” as a shape either, same as Julia. I would have said it was a bottle vase. But I suppose that is vague and dull, as opposed to your interesting description. ?
Todd
take it with a grain of salt
Dear Carl,
I think that you understood that Stuart was referring only to the presence of the inscriptions, while he indeed was referring to the fact that the inscription was related to the four cardinal points.
It is plenty of examples with black ink inscription on the bare paste, but I too have never seen it representing the four cardinal points.
Dear Stuart, your nice vase should be 19th century. The main reason for thinking this is the fact that the foot has been filed due to the excessive pooling of the glaze, a common feature seen on 19th century vases with this type of glaze.
I found it strange the whiteness of the base. Commonly these unglazed bases are burnt brown.
Nice piece!
Best regards
Giovanni
Hi Carl -
Thank you very much for taking the trouble to find and post these links.
I apologise for any misunderstanding caused in my original post regarding the question of the inked characters! I was indeed, as Giovanni has pointed out, not referring to ink inscriptions in general, but pacifically to the four cardinals and inquiring if any one else had ever seen these on another piece.
Hi Todd,
Thank you very much. Yes, I'am delighted with the restoration, very high quality!!
Just to clarify, this is indeed a bottle type vase, but classed as a 'water-chestnut' shape.
I to like the more 'unusual' pieces, the inclusion of the inked four cardinals to the base made this vase more so - for me!
Dear Giovanni -
Thank you very much for your thoughts/opinions.
Yes, the ground foot is commonly seen on 19th century vases, I have no issues with such a dating attribution.
The overall shape has some elegance, complemented by the beautiful variations of blues/purples and slight reds within the transmutation glaze. However, as you mention, the unglazed base is rather unusual, made much more so by the four inked cardinals - something I also have never encountered before - the inclusion of which makes this vase somewhat interesting!
With warmest regards to all for sharing your thoughts ....
Stuart
The larger characters starting from 6 o’clock clockwise are east, south, west, north. The others ones are hard to discern. If you upload larger pictures of each quarter I can try again.
Hi John
Thank you very much in advance for taking the time to look at these inked characters - larger images of each quarter attached, hope these are of some help ... Apologies for the image quality, taken on my iPhone.
Stuart
Sorry, still not able to recognize them. You may want to find any local Chinese friend to help you with that.
Would cleaning the base with soapy water help? Make sure it wont damage the writing if you try.
Carl
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