A CHINESE XUANDE BOTTLE VASE Imperial 5 Claw Dragon

Certain chinese porcelain patterns were for the people, and some were exclusively Imperial. The 5 claw dragon was reserved for the Emperor. A porcelain specialist looks for certain things, because the Chinese painters were real artists! The artwork has a loose movement to it, and not static and awkward.

The brush strokes have been done with a flourish, confidently. Finished with a little flick, not meeting neatly, uncontrived, giving energy and style! Also the artwork is not a'mess'.

By that I mean'unbalanced'. Look at the spacing, the gaps of white between the blue are the same size. It does not offend the eye, it is easy and pleasant to look at. It has been done with an'artist's' eye! A small area of possible heap and pile (See photos) which is a feature of Xuande period porcelain.

The imported cobalt blue from Persia would break through the glaze and go black and bubble. Touches of red showing in the unglazed foot is a sign of Xuande period porcelain.

Xuande kilns were incredibly high firing, and the iron in the porcelain would melt out and oxidize. You look for the black dots and firing splits to spot antique Chinese porcelain. However, this was just in wares for the people. Imperial pieces were flawless, as this piece is, and looked like modern porcelain today.

A common mistake is that the double ring mark on Chinese porcelain is just Kangxi period. The double rings were also used in the Xuande period.

Date marks for the people were rougher, (See last photo) Imperial marks were neat and fine, like on this piece. Zoom in on the date mark and you will see that it is not a stamp, but a finely hand painted Xuande mark by the darkness of the beginning of each brush stroke, then going lighter. No provenance with this piece, but found in a well-to-do village fair and had been missed. If it's right, it can be hundreds of thousands, but priced so as to not just give it away. Please research and calculate for your country.

This item is in the category "Antiques\Asian/Oriental Antiques\Chinese\Porcelain". The seller is "countryhouseantique" and is located in this country: GB.

This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Product: Vase
• Features: Signed
• Region of Origin: Chinese