Brush pot, Black family; China, 20th century. Hand-painted and gilded porcelain.

Brush pot, Black family; China, 20th century.
Hand-painted and gilded porcelain.
Measurements: 29 x 12,5 cm.
Pot or vase made in porcelain that presents a great ornamentation. This one is based on a central border in which a figurative scene of costumbrista character is inscribed. On the outside of the border, geometric elements are set against a black background. These characteristics place the piece in an ornamental style inspired by the Black Family of the Kangxi period, a very rare decorative group at the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th century, but very frequent in pieces from the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. The Black Family style, typical of Kangxi, is a sub-group of the Green Family, characterised by the use of black glaze as the background for the decoration, so that the brushstroke motif is reserved. In the Kangxi period the black had not yet been properly fixed, so it was covered with a layer of green glaze to fix it. However, in this vase the black is already modern, perfectly achieved, so it is not necessary to cover it, but the author, imitating the old style, maintains the use of green in most of the areas where the black has been applied. However, the presence of unmistakably modern enamels such as pale pink and bright green indicate that this is a piece from the 19th century onwards.