386.
A TURQUOISE-GLAZED DOUBLE GOURD VASE, HULUPING
Qing dynasty, Qianlong period, mid 18th century
33 cm high
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina, Placido de Sangro (1829-1891) collection.
inv. n. 3338.
The flattened globular body supporting a pear shaped upper section, a moulded horizontal knotted ribbon to the waisted neck with the two extremities naturalistically falling on the lower body, the whole surface covered with a turquoise glaze which turns alternately to lighter and darker tones.
The turquoise glaze was already used during the Yuan dynasty, especially for some ceramics of the Cizhou-type, probably inspired by vessels made in Western Asia where this colour was very appraised. Its fortune decline during the Ming dynasty, when it appears on fahua pieces usually together with other enamels. It was used with more intensity in the Qing period, but only few pieces were destined to the court, while its vivid tones were much valued in Europe, where turquoise-glazed porcelain were often embellished with gilt bronze ormolu.
