Porcelain - China - 20th century

Qianjiang Enamel Rectangular Desk Vase with Figures and Landscape Motifs

• Era: Republic of China period (with the base mark "Made in the Imperial Palace", a Qing-dynasty imitation style popular during the Republic)
• Material: White porcelain body, decorated with Qianjiang enamel
• Dimensions: Approximately 10 × 10 × 6.5 cm
• Condition: Intact piece, with a glossy enamel surface and well-preserved colors. No notable cracks or chips, only slight wear to the supporting feet, characteristic of Qianjiang enamel objects from the Republic era.
Lot Description

This piece is a Qianjiang-enamel rectangular desk vase from the Republic of China period. It has a regular shape, a fine porcelain body and a glossy white enamel. The object is square-shaped, with four feet at the base and, inside, a partition that divides the interior into three compartments. It was designed to hold desk utensils such as brushes, ink, and seals, blending functionality with decorative value.

• Painting art: The four faces of the body are decorated with figures and landscape scenes in Qianjiang enamel. One side shows a scholar seated, fanning himself, with books beside him, representing the elegance of literati. The other side features a landscape with distant mountains, nearby trees, and a traveler in search of a friend. The strokes are simple and the colors subdued, reflecting the aesthetics of Chinese literary painting.

• Poems and signatures: On two of its faces are cursive-calligraphy verses: "Embracing the qin to visit a friend" and "Tasting the clear spring and exhaling elegance, harmonizing with good fortune and the fragrance of flowers." The signatures read "Made by Li Ben (or Xing Ben)" and "Produced by Sun Fuchang." The fluid calligraphy complements the paintings, highlighting the artistic hallmark of Republic-era Qianjiang enamel: the integration of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal.

• Base mark: The base bears in alunite-red the mark "Made in the Imperial Palace," a common mark during the Republic that imitated the Qing dynasty, indicating the craftsmanship and aesthetic aims of its manufacture.

Suitable for desk-objects collectors, porcelain lovers, and enthusiasts of traditional art. Its regular shape and elegant painting make it useful as a desk utensil and as a decorative piece for the table.