Product Description:

This is an antique Meiping vase or urn circa 1868-1920 from the Qing Dynasty. It has an understated elegance and needs to be seen up close in order to be appreciated. It has China stamped underneath. Notice that the font is very different from those seen in 20th century Chinese export metalware. 


It stands at approximately 8.7 inches tall and weighs 1 pound. It has a bulbous body with wide shoulders and a small mouth opening. The exterior colour is a combination of deep royal blue and indigo. The interior of the vase/urn has been enamelled in Jingtai blue. There is a gilted finial knob in the shape of a flame.


With the exception of its base, the vase/urn has been almost completely designed in fish/dragon motifs. The base is surrounded by an auspicious, tall ruyi diaper. The lid/cover has both fish/dragon and ruyi diaper patterns.

This antique is in very good condition. There is slight pitting and filigree dullness in a couple of places, but these are barely noticeable. 

About Meiping Vases:

The earliest examples were produced during the Tang dynasty (618-907)  were used as wine vessels. By the Song dynasty (960-1279) their use had evolved into being used to display plum blossoms, hence the name they are known by today Meiping.The word literally translates into "plum vase".  

During the Ming dynasty (1368–1644)  they were produced primarily in blue and white and on rare occasions in underglaze red. During the Qing dynasty (1644–1912) the ranges produced expanded immensely, including blue and white, langyao, flambe glazes, sancai, famille verte and famille rose decorations.  Among the millions of porcelains produced over the centuries antique Chinese vases in the Meiping shape remains one of the most popular forms.

Source: Peter Combs "Antique Chinese Vases Forms-Shapes-Dating Them"  December 1, 2016

About Chinese Cloisonné:

Chinese cloisonné can be traced to before the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Enamel artisans have refined this technique over many centuries. The process involved creating an outline of a design or partitions (cloisons in French) by soldering brass wires onto metal surfaces of either brass or copper. Enamel coloring, including ground precious stones were then melted, cooled, solidified, and lastly made into a powder made into a paste.

Once the enamel paste was set onto the copper surface, it was sent to the kiln for firing and solidifying. After the enamel cooled, it contracted and more enamel would be added to the remaining open spaces. This process would be repeated several more times. Towards the end of the process, the enamel and the soldered brass wires would be given a smooth finishing into order to blend the wires together with the enamel. Finally, the remaining brass wires, top and bottom rim of the finished piece would be gilded.

Notes for Customer

About collectible pieces sold by AntiqueHaus:

Each collectible sold by AntiqueHaus is either an antique or vintage artifact. As such, there may be minor wear and tear, consistent with age and use. We do our best to carefully photograph items in their current condition, to show imperfections or damage, where applicable. The photos are part of the description. This information is also reflected in the product description. Please note that this does not guarantee that other blemishes may exist. Since all sales are final, kindly contact us with your questions or comments prior to making your purchase.

We are not expert appraisers who authenticate vintage and antique pieces. However, we have a love of history and artefacts from across different cultures, spanning different eras. To provide our customers with as much information as possible, we research each piece and endeavour to find details about its provenance. We welcome suggestions to add research to our listings.

About us:

AntiqueHaus is a family-run business. We are proudly located in Ottawa, the national capital of Canada. We lovingly curate timeless antique and vintage pieces from all over the world. We look forward to sharing our passion with you!

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