A RARE TEADUST-GLAZED BOTTLE VASE, 18TH-19TH CENTURY
A RARE TEADUST-GLAZED BOTTLE VASE, 18TH-19TH CENTURY
Expert’s note: The present lot belongs to a distinguished group of Qing dynasty tea-dust-glazed wares, one of the most refined monochrome glaze types, which was also produced at the imperial kilns. Perfectly fired vessels in this glaze, such as the present vase, have many small stipples that make the surface appear particularly rich and velvety to the touch.The glaze is a high-fired crystalline glaze, formed by iron and magnesium particles suspended on the surface and reacting with the silicate elements during firing. The precipitation of yellow crystals against a deep olive-green ground creates the celebrated chayemo or ‘tea-leaf dust’ effect. During the Qianlong period, this glaze reached its highest technical and aesthetic refinement, combining restrained color with exceptional surface depth, as perfectly exemplified by the present lot.China. Superbly potted, the ovoid body supported on a short foot and surmounted by a rounded shoulder and slender cylindrical neck. Covered overall with a finely mottled, elegant silky matte glaze of deep olive-green color, thinning to mushroom at the rim. The glaze also covers the base and terminates in an even line above the foot, which is partially covered with a brown wash, a characteristic feature of eighteenth-century production.Provenance: From an important Dutch private collector and connoisseur of Chinese art, acquired before 1955 and thence by descent in the family. The collector assembled his collection during an extended period of residence in China, acquiring works with a discerning and scholarly eye before returning to the Netherlands in 1954. Preserved in its entirety within the same family thereafter, the collection was distinguished by its remarkable breadth and scholarly character, encompassing imperial porcelain, bronzes, furniture, silk robes, jade, books, and scrolls. No object from the collection, including the present lot, had appeared on the market prior to its dispersal in 2026.Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and firing irregularities.Weight: 244 gDimensions: Height 15.5 cmThe fine teadust glazes of the 18th century are linked to the most famous and revered of all the supervisors of the imperial kilns, Tang Ying (1682-1756). Tang Ying’s document ‘Commemorative Stele on Ceramic Production’ from 1735 provides information on 57 types of porcelain ware, including 40 monochrome glazes. Amongst these, there is reference to ‘copy workshop glaze’ fang changguan, i.e. tea-dust, and a listing of three variants: eel-skin yellow, snake-skin green, and speckled yellow. It is interesting that these are called fang or copies, since it suggests that the kilns were specifically copying an ancient glaze, most probably a Tang or Song dynasty original tea-dust glaze from northern China.Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 2 April 2026, lot 32 Price: USD 20,320 or approx. EUR 18,000 converted at the time of writing Description: A small teadust-glazed bottle vase, China, 18th centuryExpert remark: Compare the closely related glaze. Note the size (11.1 cm) and that this vase is also unmarked.Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 21 March 2023, lot 2 Price: USD 177,800 or approx. EUR 172,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A teadust-glazed pear-shaped vase, seal mark and period of QianlongExpert remark: Compare the related form and closely related glaze. Note the reign mark and the size (23.6 cm). Also note that this is a marked Imperial example.
A RARE TEADUST-GLAZED BOTTLE VASE, 18TH-19TH CENTURY
Expert’s note: The present lot belongs to a distinguished group of Qing dynasty tea-dust-glazed wares, one of the most refined monochrome glaze types, which was also produced at the imperial kilns. Perfectly fired vessels in this glaze, such as the present vase, have many small stipples that make the surface appear particularly rich and velvety to the touch.The glaze is a high-fired crystalline glaze, formed by iron and magnesium particles suspended on the surface and reacting with the silicate elements during firing. The precipitation of yellow crystals against a deep olive-green ground creates the celebrated chayemo or ‘tea-leaf dust’ effect. During the Qianlong period, this glaze reached its highest technical and aesthetic refinement, combining restrained color with exceptional surface depth, as perfectly exemplified by the present lot.China. Superbly potted, the ovoid body supported on a short foot and surmounted by a rounded shoulder and slender cylindrical neck. Covered overall with a finely mottled, elegant silky matte glaze of deep olive-green color, thinning to mushroom at the rim. The glaze also covers the base and terminates in an even line above the foot, which is partially covered with a brown wash, a characteristic feature of eighteenth-century production.Provenance: From an important Dutch private collector and connoisseur of Chinese art, acquired before 1955 and thence by descent in the family. The collector assembled his collection during an extended period of residence in China, acquiring works with a discerning and scholarly eye before returning to the Netherlands in 1954. Preserved in its entirety within the same family thereafter, the collection was distinguished by its remarkable breadth and scholarly character, encompassing imperial porcelain, bronzes, furniture, silk robes, jade, books, and scrolls. No object from the collection, including the present lot, had appeared on the market prior to its dispersal in 2026.Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and firing irregularities.Weight: 244 gDimensions: Height 15.5 cmThe fine teadust glazes of the 18th century are linked to the most famous and revered of all the supervisors of the imperial kilns, Tang Ying (1682-1756). Tang Ying’s document ‘Commemorative Stele on Ceramic Production’ from 1735 provides information on 57 types of porcelain ware, including 40 monochrome glazes. Amongst these, there is reference to ‘copy workshop glaze’ fang changguan, i.e. tea-dust, and a listing of three variants: eel-skin yellow, snake-skin green, and speckled yellow. It is interesting that these are called fang or copies, since it suggests that the kilns were specifically copying an ancient glaze, most probably a Tang or Song dynasty original tea-dust glaze from northern China.Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 2 April 2026, lot 32 Price: USD 20,320 or approx. EUR 18,000 converted at the time of writing Description: A small teadust-glazed bottle vase, China, 18th centuryExpert remark: Compare the closely related glaze. Note the size (11.1 cm) and that this vase is also unmarked.Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 21 March 2023, lot 2 Price: USD 177,800 or approx. EUR 172,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A teadust-glazed pear-shaped vase, seal mark and period of QianlongExpert remark: Compare the related form and closely related glaze. Note the reign mark and the size (23.6 cm). Also note that this is a marked Imperial example.
