Chinese Reticulated Double-Walled Porcelain Carp Vase

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Description

Elongated lobed apertures pierce each side of this square-section porcelain vessel, offering a framed view into an inner cylindrical sleeve. … Read more Elongated lobed apertures pierce each side of this square-section porcelain vessel, offering a framed view into an inner cylindrical sleeve. Hand-painted enamel decoration across the exterior depicts carp and catfish swimming through rippling water weeds, rendered in iron-red, grisaille and leafy green enamels against a white ground. The inner chamber continues the aquatic theme, centring on an upright carp rising through pondweed. The vase rises from a flat, unglazed square base to a short collar and a flared trumpet neck. Looking directly down into the neck reveals a narrow interior aperture measuring between 10 mm and 15 mm across, showing the complex construction required to fuse the outer square housing to the inner core before firing. The unglazed foot displays characteristic cross-hatched firing texture surrounding a small glazed central recess bearing an iron-red four-character seal mark. Produced in China during the late Qing dynasty, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century, vessels of this intricate double-walled form draw on Qianlong-period technical traditions of reticulated and rotating court wares. The piece measures 25.4 cm high, 8.9 cm wide and 8.7 cm deep. Condition is fair to good, with an irregular chipped loss along the rim of one pierced side aperture, adhesive residue on one upper shoulder, and typical kiln dust and surface wear consistent with age. See less