Blog
Joseph.Sharon@chinesemasterpieces.com
Masterpiece
Imperial Blue & White 15th Century. Ming Dynasty Chenghua Mark & Period Brush Washer
SALE $2,700,000.
This is an extremely fine incised B/W Ming Dynasty Chenghua period Imperial brush washer. This brush washer was painted in a wave pattern some crashing against the rocks with finely incised mythical animals above the water. The brush washer measures approx. 5 9/16 inches tall. Chenghua period was from 1465 - 1487. These blue and white wares are the most sought after blue and white wares China ever produced. The beautiful cobalt used during this period makes them very easy to distinguish from other periods. They have a distinct blackish tone from the imported somali blue cobalt they used during that period. They also mixed in local cobalt call pitang to stabilize the Imported cobalt because it was known to run. Most Chenghua wares don't have the heaping and piling effect because they refined the cobalt so well, pieces that have heaping and piling that breaks the surface of the glaze will show a silvery skin reflection. The imported cobalt came from Persia and known one knows where in Persia. China has not imported this cobalt since the end of the Chenghua period over 500 years ago. The Chenghua wares are painted with fine outlines and filled in with a broad brush using loose free style strokes. They refined the clay better than any previous period and used high firing kilns, often causing un- glazed bottoms to look burnt or mottled and glazed bottoms will look wavy. The glaze has tiny even bubbles that can be seen with a loupe.
New Paragraph


