Wanli Wucai Vase

The Carp motif has long been a staple of the porcelain decoration landscape in China.  Fish symbolize abundance, the Chinese word for fish (yu) sounds like a word that means "surplus" or "excess".  The word for carp (li) sounds like the word for "profit" and is also a symbol of scholarly success.

This Carp vase is an excellent example of Doucai porcelain decoration at the height of the Wanli period.

Ming Dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573-1620)

 Item # CIP-432 

$9,275.00 

Height: 26 cm;

Width of mouth: 3cm;

Width of base 7.2 cm.

Provenance: Washington DC Estate

Decoration: Six Carp swimming among water weeds, separated by double line top and bottom.  Band of Lotus panels around bottom, scrolling lotus around top surmounted by up-turned pendant leaves. 

Technique: Some motifs outlined with cobalt oxide pigment, filled with cobalt wash, under transparent glaze; remaining motifs outlined with red enamel or black pigment, filled with red, yellow, and green enamels, over transparent glaze.  Wucai.

 Mark: Six characters in single line around shoulder of vase written with cobalt oxide pigment under transparent glaze.

Unglazed foot with Kiln grit, indicative of manufacture at a Private Kiln under contract to the Imperial Court.