Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries


Visitors' Forum

Asian Art  Forums - Detail List
Asian Art Forums

Message Listing by Date:
Message Index | Back | Post a New Message | Search | Private Mail | FAQ
Subject:Late Kangxi Plate
Posted By: Bokaba Sat, Jul 08, 2017 IP: 2605:e000:af16:3b00:

I recently purchased this blue and white plate. It is about 9 inches in diameter. Is this a late Kangxi period piece?

Thank you,

Bokaba







Subject:Re: Late Kangxi Plate
Posted By: plasticman Sat, Jul 08, 2017

If you google "M.Ford Creech antiques" and look under ceramics,Chinese export, you will note the pair of plates recently sold. They were incorrectly listed as c. 1600 instead of c.1700, but they are a virtual match to your plate. I hope this helps your affirmation as to the Kangxi origin of your piece.

Subject:Re: Late Kangxi Plate
Posted By: Bokaba Sun, Jul 09, 2017

Thank you for your assistance plasticman. I had difficulty distinguishing this plate from subsequent Yongzheng and Qianlong period underglaze blue exports. What distinguishes this period from say later exports and earlier Kangxi exports? I noticed a more sapphire blue rather than a blacker blue that I have seen on many Qianlong plates. Also, I don't recall seeing rim decoration on Qianlong pieces (I think I've seen some polychrome decoration on the rims of Yongzheng pieces).

Bokaba

Subject:Re: Late Kangxi Plate
Posted By: plasticman Mon, Jul 10, 2017

Thank you for your inquiry. I have a difficult time with photographic "blue" definition. Sometimes I am completely flummoxed by a picture that is of one shade, but appears to be quite another in the "flesh". A finding rarely mentioned on the quality that separates the earlier from later work, is remarkably, the reverse blue decoration. The earlier work ,it seems to me ,is more free flowing and of more graceful composition. As your plate has such a well- painted, robust figure centrally on the obverse side, it just "feels" to be period.

Subject:Re: Late Kangxi Plate
Posted By: Bokaba Thu, Jul 20, 2017

Thank you Plasticman. I found a nearly identical plate in Christie's Summer 2016 Export sale.

Thank you

Bokaba



Subject:Re: Late Kangxi Plate
Posted By: JLim Thu, Sep 07, 2017



Dear Bokaba

"Kangxi Blue" is usually described as an intense sapphire shade characterised by variegated washes of colour much subtler than in later eras. I must admit, the only way to develop ones eye for Kangxi blue, is just to look at many examples.

Yongzheng is supposed to be characterised by a slightly greyer shade, while Qianlong blue I always think of as being "mucky" and impure.

Perhaps more useful is to look out for the qualities of line involved. Kangxi porcelains always look vaguely "masculine" to me, with jagged lines (not quite as "cartoony" as late Ming lines), aggressive looking dragons, forceful looking landscape elements etc. Look at the "still life" jumble at the top left side of your dish - the elements are so powerfully placed, typical of Kangxi.

To me the most telling detail on your dish is the "jagged" looking blossoms and stalks on the rear of the dish. Especially with that deep shade of blue and the crooked stems - that is a signature of Kangxi and probably would look different in later eras.

Rgds
J Lim


Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |