Vase with Ming Dynasty-style Floral Designs

Like other works made for the imperial court, this magnificent vase is not only a visual and technical tour de force, but also proclaims a subtle political message. Made during the reign of the Qianlong emperor (乾隆, reigned 1735–96) of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), the vase recalls the earlier golden age of underglaze blue decoration during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), a connection that suggested legitimate imperial continuity by the Qing.

Ming decorative motifs include the white-capped waves at the top, the ascending plantain leaves on the neck, the three bands of scrolling lotus flowers and vines, the rúyìtóu (如意头, 如意頭) pattern of hanging volutes on the shoulder, and the upraised lotus-petal pattern at the bottom (a motif borrowed from Buddhist art). A further nod to the Ming era is seen in the dark blue splotches that appear in the decorations. In Ming underglaze blue, the less pure cobalt often melted and ran slightly during the high-temperature firing, pooling in areas to create the dark spots and fuzzy edges known as “heaping and piling.” Although this technical challenge had been overcome by the Qing period, the effect was consciously imitated by the imperial artisans.