Bowl - Porcelain - Imperial Thieu Tri

The mark under the cover, made during the Shaozhi era (绍治, 1841-1847), is an imperial Vietnamese mark of the Nguyen dynasty, produced in Jingdezhen for the Vietnamese court under Emperor Thieu Tri, during the Daoguang era.

This lot is extremely rare and comprises imperial porcelain commissioned by Emperor Thieu Tri of the Nguyen dynasty during the Daoguang era. Emperor Thieu Tri, deeply influenced by his grandfather and father, received a profound Confucian education and distinguished himself for his exceptional refinement. During the Minh Mang era, he was enfeoffed with the title Duke Truong Khanh and was entrusted with important responsibilities. Upon the death of Emperor Minh Mang in 1841, he ascended the throne. He reigned for only six years, managed the affairs of the Tran Thai province, and resisted French invasion, proving himself a capable and conservative sovereign. The majority of porcelain commissioned by Emperor Thieu Tri features dragon motifs, bearing witness to high artisanal mastery and refined aesthetic taste. Furthermore, he drew inspiration from Western porcelain styles and commissioned their production in China. The inscriptions often bear phrases 'Produced in the year of Thieu Tri', 'Produced in the year of Xin Chou' and 'Produced in the year of Yi Si'. This lot features a five-clawed dragon decoration that, while not as imposing as traditional dragon designs, possesses a unique charm. The cobalt blue is vibrant and the porcelain body is a pure, delicate white, making it a masterpiece among commissioned porcelains.

Metal rims: the porcelains, known as 'Bleu de Hue', were everyday court objects or prestigious gifts for mandarins. The metal rims were added to prevent chipping and cracking at particularly vulnerable points, ensuring the longevity of the piece. The porcelains 'without metal rims' with specific kingdom marks, such as that of Thiệu Trị, confirm their imperial destination.

Attached image: Sold with about 4 mm of chipping on the inner rim, €4,680.
Attached image: Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000 RMB (about 3,800-6,400 EUR). Sold. The hammer price for the Thieu Tri dynasty bowl (19th century) sold through Artron in 2021 was 34,500 RMB (4,356.58 EUR).
Perfect condition
Height 7 x 15 cm
Item without a base.
Any customs duties are the buyer's responsibility.

Last 27 images were taken in natural sunlight
Private collection, provenance 1990/95 Auction House