A Very Rare Celadon Glazed Biscuit Porcelain ‘Libation Cup’, Daoguang Mark and of the Period.

A Very Rare Chinese Celadon Glazed Biscuit Porcelain ‘Libation Cup’, Daoguang Mark and of the Period, 1821 – 1850. When I sold an almost identical celadon libation cup in 2003, I thought it dated to the Kangxi period, but I was wrong. Several years later another example, also catalogued as Kangxi, was sold at Christie’s in King Street for £9,375 in 2011. Perhaps they copied my incorrect dating. (see ‘Information below’ the Photograph Gallery). The present marked piece proves these cups were actually made over 100 years later than the Kangxi period (1662-1722). Looking at ceramics is not just about learning new things, occasionally it is about unlearning what you thought was right and admitting your mistake. I for one have my mistakes at the forefront of my mind ! This Daoguang mark and of the period (1821 – 1850) porcelain cup is a very rare piece.

The applied biscuit porcelain decoration is very crisp and stands well above the celadon glaze. The applied decoration looks utterly different from the 17th century Blanc de Chine originals, mostly because of the rather wonderful celadon glaze but the modelling of the applied decoration is also somewhat different. The glaze was double dipped, that is to say the exterior was dipped in the glaze twice. This of course adds a depth of glaze but also, it increases the intensity of green celadon glaze. Looking at the interior, you can see there is a darker glaze below the rim, it’s not ever even as this was added at speed. So, the top of the cup on the inside is also double dipped, you can see the green below is paler where it had a single dip of glaze. Despite that, the double dipped glaze is not thick, you can’t feel any difference in glaze depth between the single and the double layer of glaze. I suspect this is because the glaze was added within seconds, so both layers merged and then dried together.

See Below for More Photographs and Information.

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