Related News
Even a fake becomes a coveted masterpiece
April 12, 2009, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA enjoyed a decade of peace with no big conflicts or social disturbances during the reign of the Ming Dynasty Emperor Xuande (1425-1435). Historians regard this period as the golden age of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
With little to distract him, the emperor, himself an accomplished painter, indulged in fine arts and it was during his reign that some of the finest ceramics appeared.
Kiln artisans in Jingdezhen developed a technique to achieve underglaze red in porcelain, but the complexity of skills involved meant only a small amount of masterpieces ever emerged from the kiln.
Underglaze is a method of decorating ceramic articles. The decoration is applied to the surface before it is glazed to ensure its durability.
Two hundred years later, during the reign of Qing Dynasty Emperor Kangxi (1661-1722), Jingdezhen artisans began to make imitations of Xuande masterpieces, and the resulting fakes were convincing enough to deceive the experts of the day. Many such pieces can still be seen in museums, including a stem cup with three underglaze fish patterns (pictured right) now on display at the Shanghai Museum.
Measuring 8.8 centimeters high and 9.9 centimeters in rim diameter, the stem cup is adorned with three mandarin fish on the side and blue double circles at the bottom.
A label under the base has six Chinese characters meaning "Made in Xuande Reign of Ming Dynasty." But the cup was actually a fake made in the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The mandarin fish, painted in vivid abstract style, are crimson as a result of the chemical reaction of copper-based pigment in high temperature.
A similar stem cup with underglaze red fish was sold for HK$15.24 million (US$2 million) by Sotheby's at its spring auction in 2006.
With little to distract him, the emperor, himself an accomplished painter, indulged in fine arts and it was during his reign that some of the finest ceramics appeared.
Kiln artisans in Jingdezhen developed a technique to achieve underglaze red in porcelain, but the complexity of skills involved meant only a small amount of masterpieces ever emerged from the kiln.
Underglaze is a method of decorating ceramic articles. The decoration is applied to the surface before it is glazed to ensure its durability.
Two hundred years later, during the reign of Qing Dynasty Emperor Kangxi (1661-1722), Jingdezhen artisans began to make imitations of Xuande masterpieces, and the resulting fakes were convincing enough to deceive the experts of the day. Many such pieces can still be seen in museums, including a stem cup with three underglaze fish patterns (pictured right) now on display at the Shanghai Museum.
Measuring 8.8 centimeters high and 9.9 centimeters in rim diameter, the stem cup is adorned with three mandarin fish on the side and blue double circles at the bottom.
A label under the base has six Chinese characters meaning "Made in Xuande Reign of Ming Dynasty." But the cup was actually a fake made in the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The mandarin fish, painted in vivid abstract style, are crimson as a result of the chemical reaction of copper-based pigment in high temperature.
A similar stem cup with underglaze red fish was sold for HK$15.24 million (US$2 million) by Sotheby's at its spring auction in 2006.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
