A Flambé Glazed Brushwasher

Qing Dynasty, 18th Century

Of quatrefoil form, the wide ridged sides turning gently inwards at the edge of the rim, richly covered in a vibrant iridescent ruby purple streaked with hues of blue. Left unglazed at the high points of the rim, and the foot ring.

By the Qing dynasty, Jun wares of the Song Period were regarded as objects of admiration at court as well as amongst literati connoisseurs. The Yongzheng and Qianlong emperors sought to reproduce the beautiful glaze effects of Jun wares by commissioning Flambé Glazed wares from the imperial workshops at Jingdezhen.

The streaks characteristic of this glaze are known as yaobian (‘transmutation glaze’). 

Diameter: 19.5cm (7 1/2 inches)

Provenance: An American Private Collection

Yamanaka & Co, New York

$5,000

All prices are quoted in $SGD