A Ming or Early Qing Blanc de Chine Porcelain Censer c.1620 – 1650.
A 17th century Blanc de Chine Porcelain bronze form censer late Ming or early Qing c.1620-1650, from the Dehua kilns in Fujian Province. The bombe form with two lion mask handles. The 19th century carved wood cover has a coral finial.
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- Condition
- The Blanc de Chine censer is in perfect condition, the later wood cover has a long but very fine split.
- Size
- Diameter : 14.5 cm (5 3/4 inches)
- Provenance
- R and G McPherson Antiques. From a Private European Collection of Antique Chinese Porcelain.
- Stock number
- 24812
- References
- For three Ming porcelain Blanc de Chine censers of this form see : Blanc de Chine (Introduction by John Ayers, S.Marchant & Son, 2006. ISBN 0-9554009-0-2) pages 110-111, plates 73, 73a, 73b. Further Ming Blanc de Chine censers dated to c.1620 and two c.1640 are illustrated in : Blanc de Chine (Forward by Richard P. Marchant, Marchant, London, Exhibition Catalogue 30th October - 21st November 2014.)
Photos
Information
Blanc de Chine Porcelain :
The porcelain known in the West as Blanc de Chine was produced 300 miles south of the main Chinese kiln complex of Jingdezhen. The term refers to the fine grain white porcelain made at the kilns situated near Dehua in the coastal province of Fujian, these kilns also produced other types of porcelain. A rather freely painted blue and white ware, porcelain with brightly coloured `Swatow` type enamels as well as pieces with a brown iron-rich glaze. However it is the white blanc de Chine wares that have made these kilns famous. The quality and colour achieved by the Dehua potters was partly due to the local porcelain stone, it was unusually pure and was used without kaolin being added. This, combined with a low iron content and other chemical factors within the body as well as the glaze, enabled the potters to produce superb ivory-white porcelain.