Very Fine Free Standing Chinese Jar & Cover as a Table Lamp

This little jar and cover was produced at the famous Imperial kilns at Jingdezhen in China's Jiangxi province. The major output of the kilns was to supply porcelains of fine quality for the Emporer, the Imperial family and the court circles.

Most of what we know about this "porcelain city" comes to us from the letters of Pere d'Entrecolle,a French Jesuit missionary who travelled to China at the end of the 17th century. He detailed what he saw in a long series of letters written between 1712-1722. He described in detail the vast factory and kilns at Jingdezhen. He tells us of how the "kilns roared all night and how the town was illuminated by the flames from the vast number of ovens". This enormous Imperial production was ultimately overseen by the Emperor Yongzhen, who ruled from the dragon throne from 1723 until his death in 1735.

The Yongzhen Emperor was the first true art-lover from among the long Qing Dynasty of Manchu rulers. He passionately cared for and lived with works of art. The Emporer knew many of his artisans by name and it is well known that he rewarded creations that he considered outstanding. The Yonzhen reign is also attributed with the development of a wide range of pastel colours, (or enamels, when referring to ceramics). It is this delicate palette of colours which decorate our subject.

This style of lamp has, of course, a rather impressive list of benefits:-

1. A functional table lamp.

2. An antique work of art, (complete with it's original low drum shaped cover which it retains even after 270 years)!

3. An asset which will continue to add to its value.

4. A constant visual pleasure.

5. Table lamps are not meant to illuminate a room as per overhead lighting but are selectively placed to provide a softer pool of light accentuating and complimenting the decor and "feeling" of a room.

6. This example, like all of our lamps, is highly individualised in design with no repeats, making this a most unique table lamp.

B044

A very fine and early, 18th century, Chinese Yongzhen period jar and cover as a table lamp. The jar and cover enamelled in a very pretty, harmonious combination of pastel colours. The Yongzhen reign is renowned for this pastel palette and this is a very lovely example. Both sides of the jar with white reserves very delicately painted with Chinese antiques, flower filled vases, Buddhist text, an altar offering of a large fruit filled dish and a smoking sensor in a butter yellow. The ground of the jar and cover decorated with a formal floreat design. The ground, pale mauve, the floreat design, a pastel lemon and sky blue. The decorative pastel palette of enamels including orange, turquoise, green and touches of red. The low drum shaped cover of the same style. The decoration of this jar and cover of Imperial quality. The jar and cover on a turned maple wood stand, water gilded. As this jar and cover is free standing, it can be removed from the stand at any time. The jar and cover in perfect condition.

Circa 1723-1735

Overall height (including shade) 17"/43cm