YONGZHENG PERIOD (1723-1735)

This jar is an interesting example of Qing dynasty archaism. Archaism was popular in the ceramics made for the Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong emperors, and often great efforts were made to copy glazes, forms and decoration from earlier periods. In this example, the Qing potters have skillfully copied the tianbai (sweet white) glaze of the Ming dynasty Yongle reign, and have reproduced a covered jar form associated with the 15th century. Interestingly, on the base of this Qing white jar is a tian (heaven) mark, which in the Ming period is associated with Chenghua porcelains decorated in doucai style.