A large rare blue and white Meiping vase, Ming dynasty, Wanli (1572-1620).
For condition report contact specialist
Of wide-shouldered, tapering form, with a flared neck, painted with a wide band depictin three mythological beasts amid cloud scrolls, further bands of lotus scroll and horses flying over waves. Height 48,8 cm.
Provenance: The vase was purchased at Galerie Hörhammer, Helsinki, Finland, January 8th 1941. Thence by descent. For more information, see below.
Provenance
The vase was purchased at Galerie Hörhammer, Helsinki, Finland, January 8th 1941. Thence by descent. Ivar Hörhammer (1884-1953) dealt in fine art and antiques, first he work with the famous Art Dealer and Collector Gösta Stenman but two years later in 1918 he opened his own gallery. He had a personal interest in Chinese Antiques and Works of Art and acquired a lot in England in the 1930’s.
Literature
For other Meiping vases of this period but with marks see:
Zhongguo chutu ciqi quanji, Complete Collection of Ceramic Art Unearthed in China, Beijing, 2008, Beijing volume, pls. 164-165; one of these is also illustrated in Zhongguo wenwu jinghua daquan. Taoci juan Gems of China's Cultural Relics, Ceramics Section, Hong Kong, 1993, pl. 789.
Researches on Ancient Chinese Ceramics, Vol. 6, Beijing, 2000.
Also Jingjiang Princes’ Heritage: The Blue and White Plum Vases of Ming Dynasty Collected by the Guilin Museum, Shanghai, 2000.
More information
During the Song and Yuan periods (960-1368) meiping vases were used as wine containers, while in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) meiping were used primarily as flower vases or display items. In the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) they had a special extra function, as a sort of ritual vessel and were placed in the tombs of Emperors, princes, aristocrats and high ranking generals across China.