Baluster vase - Porcelain - China

The body of the vase presents a traditional figurative scene with young girls or female figures immersed in a garden with floral elements, classical furnishings and plants. On the neck stand out banana leaves and two small stylized handles in the shape of dragons or ruyi scepters, painted in iron-red. The back bears a famous composition by the poet Li Bai (Tang Dynasty): "The clouds remind one of his robes, the flowers of his face; the spring breeze caresses the railing and the dew grows thicker and brighter on the petals." This inscription pairs perfectly with the front of the vase, which indeed depicts young girls in a garden. Just below the cursive signature stands out the artist's seal, stamped in iron-red, which contains the characters of his art-name or workshop name. The conjoint presence of the calligraphic signature and the corresponding seal is a crucial element: in Zhou Yumao's works, this combination certifies the direct authorship of the porcelain painting by the master. Cross-referencing the painter's name with the analyzed date inscription, the year of production is fixed at 1914. It is therefore an important historical testimony of the very early years of the Republic of China, painted by one of the most highly regarded masters of that artistic transition.