1919 Chinese Porcelain Gu Vase by Xu Shanqin
Item Details
A dated Chinese porcelain vase with a hand-painted figurative scene by listed porcelain painter Xu Shanqin (徐善琴, active late 19th and early 20th century). The gu shaped vase’s upper and middle portions of the vase are decorated with charming scenes featuring men seated surrounded by curious young boys. An inscription includes an auspicious wish for a multitude of children and grandchildren. The lower portion of the vase is decorated with a dynamically rendered rooster perched upon a rock beneath a pine tree. The upper register is signed by the artist, Xu Shanqin, who was active during the end of the Qing dynasty and the early Republic (徐善琴作 Xu Shanqin zuo). The side of the jar is dated to 1919, the eighth year of the Republic period, (民國八年 minguo ba nian). The lower register is inscribed with the phrase ‘Everything is Thriving’ (大吉大利 da ji da li), expressing the sentiments of the delicately painted scene. The underside is marked with a Hongxian reign mark (洪憲年製 Hongxian nian zhi) a mark used in the early Chinese Republic. The Hongxian Emperor, born Yuan Shikai (1859-1916) was a general in the final days of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). He served as the first president of the Republic of China and attempted to restore the monarchy, declaring himself emperor. His reign, however, was short-lived, only lasting from 22 December 1915 to 22 March 1916.
Item #
16CIN601-736
