A hand potted and elaborately decorated Chinese jar with designs of warriors with banners and horses.
The base glaze, with its distinctive oatmeal crackle texture, provides a visually engaging foundation for colorful designs depicting scenes of historical and cultural significance. Powerful generals astride their steeds, banners held aloft by determined men, and breathtaking mountainous landscapes come to life on the surface of the jar, narrating stories of valor, ambition, and the enduring power of nature.
The jar's design is further enhanced by the addition of dark brown bands encircling the shoulder and the area above the foot. These bands, with their resemblance to bronze, introduce an element of contrasting color and texture, while also evoking the rich tradition of bronze casting in Chinese art.
The shallow rounded foot is not glazed. The unmarked base is glazed.
The hardwood stand shows considerable age, and has hand-carved open work.
MEASUREMENTS
Without stand - 7 3/4 in (19.7 cm) diameter x 12 in (30.5 cm) tall
With stand 7 3/4 in (19.7 cm) diameter x 14 in (35.6 cm)
Weighs 5 lbs 15.3 oz (2700 g)
CONDITION
There are no breaks, chips, cracks, or repairs on the jar. There is a kiln flaw on the edge of the lid. Although it looks like a chip, it feels smooth and it was glazed over during manufacture. Light scratches are visible under magnification, but the enamels remain bright and fresh looking.
The stand has moderate wear to the finish, particularly on the feet and around the platform’s rim. It wobbles a little bit. Two initials (E.V.?) are lightly scratched into the underside of the stand.
The overall effect is a piece that is both visually stunning and culturally resonant, a testament to the skill of the artisan and the enduring power of Chinese artistic traditions.por
