352.
A BLACK-MIRROR-GROUND AND GILT-DECORATED BOTTLE VASE AND COVER
Qing dynasty, Kangxi period, early 18th century
29 cm high
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina, Placido de Sangro (1829-1891) collection.
inv. n. 3360.
The ‘mirror black’ technique is recorded in the “Commemorative Stele on Ceramic Production” (Taocheng jishi bei ji) compiled in 1735 by Tang Ying.
However, it is an invention dating back to the Kangxi period, already mentioned in the letter by Père d’Entrecolles of 1722. The French missionary meticulously described the process to obtain it. It consists in a mixture of good quality cobalt oxide, white glaze, iron oxide purple glaze, small quantities of lime, fern ashes and manganese. Furthermore, Père d’Entrecolles also noted that ‘mirror black’ vessels were usually cooked in the mid section, the best position of the kiln. It was the only place which ensured a gradualness in the increase and in the decrease of the temperature, essential in creating this particular glaze.
Known in Chinese with the definition of wujin yu (“mirror black”), its appearance resembled the effect of black lacquer. Often, as in this bottle vase, a gilt decoration was added.
