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Even a fake becomes a coveted masterpiece
April 12, 2009, Sunday
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Print Edition
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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.
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