Posted By: Bill H
Posted Date: Jan 21, 2011 (01:18 AM)
Tim,
Perhaps others can add cogent comment to the matter of foot rim and degree of levigation, as well as luting practices. I tend when dealing with pictures like this to rely more on visual clues in the motif to ID porcelains. If it isn't a standard pattern and contains unfamiliar icons, I favor leaving room for doubt.
This feather scroll on your jar isn't quite familiar to me in an iconographic context. For something I believe traditionally was relegated to a low profile in most motifs, it occupies a significant space on your jar without speaking much Chinese symbolism to me. Indeed, it almost drowns out the other symbolic references provided in the flowers.
The perceived contradiction strikes me as weird if there's an expectation that the piece was made before 1949. Traditional canons of artistic expression prevailed then, if for none other than market-driven reasons; e.g., the people who bought this stuff wanted it to look thoroughly Chinese. Afterward, on the Mainland at least, the more overtly metaphysical icons of Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism were deemphasized in the decorative arts for much of the first quarter-century.
Right offhand, the only place I can recall seeing other than a sgraffito feather scroll on porcelain before the late 20th century jar I've already shown was on better examples of Guangxu and early Republic millefleurs pattern dishes. It was used sparingly as a gilt accent between the leaves and buds, as shown in this Guangxu M&P cup and saucer set.
Hopefully somebody else wil drop by and provide edification for both of us, but for now I believe there's a possibility your jar may be late 20th C.
Best regards,
Bill H.
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