SHUNZHI 1644 – 1661 Transitional Porcelain
A Transitional Porcelain Wucai Jar, Shunzhi Period 1644-1661. The Thickly Potted Shunzhi Baluster Jar is Decorated in a Rich Underglaze Cobalt Blue and Strong Bright Overglaze Enamels. The Design is of Scholars Rock, Flowering Magnolia and other Flowers with Birds, all Set Against a Interlocked `Pencilled` Red Ground. The Flat Base is Unglazed.
SOLD
- Condition
- Perfect but lacking its cover. This Shunzhi porcelain jar has been cleaned since these photographs were taken, the enamels are particularly bright and clear.
- Size
- Height : 29.4 cm (11 1/2 inches)
- Provenance
- N/A
- Stock number
- 23063
Photos
Information
Wuccai :
Wucai means five coloured decoration. This consists of the overglaze enamel colours ; red, green, and yellow, underglaze cobalt blue and the white of the porcelain itself.
Shunzhi 1644-1661 :
The Shunzhi emperor (lived 1638 to 1661) was the second emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty, and the first Qing emperor to rule over China proper. He ascended to the throne aged five (six sui according to traditional Chinese count) in 1643 upon the death of his father, Hong Taiji, but actual power during the early part of his reign lay in the hands of the appointed regents, Princes Dorgon and Jirgalang. With the Qing pacification of the former Ming provinces almost complete, he died still a young man, although in circumstances that have lent themselves to rumour and speculation. In the midst of much upheaval, the Manchus seized control of Beijing in June 1644, and in October of the same year the Shunzhi emperor`s uncle, the chief regent Prince, proclaimed the Qing dynasty to be the legitimate successor to the Ming dynasty. Therefore, although the Shunzhi emperor was not the founder of the Qing dynasty, he was the first Qing emperor of China. His mother was Empress Dowager Xiao Zhuang Wen who was an excellent politician during the period. The young emperor disliked his uncle, the chief regent Prince Dorgon, and after Dorgon`s death in 1650 the emperor stripped both him and Dorgon`s brother, Prince Dodo, of their titles, although he was only 12 years old at the time. During his short reign, the Shunzhi emperor encouraged the Han Chinese to participate in government activities. He was a scholar and employed Han Chinese to teach his children. The emperor married his mother`s niece, but demoted the empress several years later. Four months after his favourite concubine passed away, he died of smallpox. Before he passed away, he appointed four regents to help his son, Hiowan Yei. They were Oboi, Sonin, Suksaha and Ebilun. It was believed that the young emperor did not pass away but left the palace to become a monk.