QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

Reserved decoration, in which the incised designs appear in white against a colored ground, was used on Jingdezhen porcelain as early as the Yuan dynasty, but gained more popularity in the Ming dynasty. Blue-ground reserve-decorated dishes with three distinct floral designs from the Xuande period exhibit the early use of this technique on a solid ground tone. In the Qing dynasty, reserve-decorated wares exist, made in emulation of Ming-dynasty prototypes, such as the blue-ground reserve-decorated ‘gardenia’ dish, Yongzheng mark and period, in the present catalogue (see lot 623). Qing-dynasty coral-ground wares with reserve-decorated designs in white are found on small vessels made in the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods through the late Qing dynasty, such as cups, bowls and small boxes. The present large and imposing vase, with the bold dragon on a coral enameled ground, however, is extremely rare.