Vase Stand with Design of a Phoenix, Garden Rock, Peonies and Magnolias

Artist Chinese , Jingdezhen, in Jiangxi province

DateKangxi period (1662–1722) of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

Mediumporcelain tile with famille noire enamel decoration on teak stand

Dimensions12.1 cm (4 3/4 in.)

ClassificationsCeramics

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Terms

Object number1916.7

DescriptionPorcelain tile with teak stand. Decorated with famille noire enamels. Teak stand with porcelain top, decorated with birds, peonies and magnolias in yellow, green and aubergine. Formerly in Morgan Porcelain Collection. Qing Dynasty, K'ang'hsi period
Label TextThe decoration on this tile was rendered in the famille noire (“black family”) palette, a variant of famille verte (“green family”). Its famille noire enamels were painted “on the biscuit,” that is onto pre-fired, unglazed ceramic, in order to create a visual effect that is darker and less shiny that that of enamel painted on a glazed surface (cf. baluster vase 1910.43). Painting enamel on biscuit helped achieve a deep, dense black—a black created by layering translucent green enamel over a matte black pigment rich in impure Chinese cobalt, iron, and manganese. As exemplified by this vase stand, the famille noire palette usually also included green, yellow and aubergine enamels; the white is the porcelain body showing through clear enamel. Red enamel was rarely used since it required the addition of a transparent underglaze to support it. Like other enameled works, enameling “on the biscuit,” required a second low temperature firing to fuse the enamels.ProvenanceFormerly in Morgan Porcelain Collection; Duveen Brothers, New York

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