A PAIR OF GILT-DECORATED POWDER-BLUE DISHES

Kangxi

Kangxi
Each gilt to the centre variously with a pair of cranes amongst pine and blossoming prunus and a bird perched on a trailing flowering branch, within a border of cartouches each enclosing a Daoist attribute on a floral geometric-pattern ground, each exterior also powder-blue decorated and the white base bearing a pseudo seal mark within an underglaze blue double ring. 26.2cm (10 3/8in) and 26.5cm (10 1/2in) diam. (2).

清康熙 灑藍地描金花鳥紋盤一對

Provenance:
Spink & Son Ltd., London
G. N. Parry (1917-1978), London, acquired from the above on 21 June 1949, and thence by descent

來源：
倫敦古董商Spink & Son Ltd.
倫敦G. N. Parry (1917-1978)舊藏，於1949年6月21日購自上者，並由後人保存迄今

Powder-blue decoration became popular on porcelains in the Kangxi reign. The effect was of a deep finely mottled or soufflé blue. The powder-blue surface was often embellished with gold decoration. The ground cobalt blue was according to literary sources 'blown onto the surface of the unfired porcelain body through a tube with gauze over the end', hence the name 'soufflé'.

灑藍釉又稱「雪花藍」，因其釉面猶如灑落的藍色水滴，故稱灑藍。據文獻記載，其深淺不一的藍色斑點為工匠用管子蘸上藍釉汁水，吹在白釉器物的表面，再經高溫燒製而成，製作工藝頗為繁複。