An extremely rare carved gilt-decorated and celadon-glazed 'phoenix' vase, Seal mark and period of Qianlong | 清乾隆 粉青釉描金鳳紋瓶 《大清乾隆年製》款

Collection of Francis X. Schoonmaker, acquired prior to 1887.

Collection of Job Male (1808-1891).

Francis X. Schoonmaker收藏，得於1887年之前

Job Male (1808-1891) 收藏

Catalogue of the Loan Collection of Paintings, and the Schoonmaker Collection of Porcelains and Cloisonné, at the Job Male Library, Art Gallery and Museum, part II, New Jersey, 1887, cat. no. 19. 

《Catalogue of the Loan Collection of Paintings, and the Schoonmaker Collection of Porcelains and Cloisonné, at the Job Male Library, Art Gallery and Museum》，卷II，新澤西，1887年，編號19

This exquisite vase is rare for its creative virtuosity, combining a lavish surface decoration that was carved, glazed and then further enhanced with gilding. Whilst the technique of gilt-decorating porcelain is known from as early as the Yuan dynasty (see, for example, a stem cup in the Shanghai Museum, illustrated in Jessica Harrison Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 54, pl. 3), it was only during the Qing dynasty that the decorative potential of gilding ceramics was fully exploited as a result of the introduction of European designs to the court by Jesuit missionaries. 

No other vase of this type appears to be recorded, however a similar design is found on a larger (32cm high) gilt-decorated carved celadon-glazed 'dragon' vase from the Qianlong period, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 20th May 1987, lot 489. The technique is also seen on Qianlong period wall vases, including one with peony designs, in the Huaihaitang Collection, illustrated in Ethereal Elegance. Porcelain Vases of the Imperial Qing. The Huaihaitang Collection, Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2007, cat. no. 81, and another with archaistic motifs framing an imperial poem in Treasures in the Royalty. The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, pl. 314.