Vase - Ceramic - China

Large Chinese ceramic vase "Crackle" Cantonese / Nanjing style – Multicolored warrior decoration – Late 19th / Early 20th century

Typology: Monumental decorative vase
Origin: China
Period: Late 19th century – Early 20th century (Late Qing Dynasty / Republican Period)
Decorative style/typology: Crackle ceramic of Nanjing type (Nanking Ware) with polychrome decoration "Famille Rose / Green"
Material: Glazed ceramic with crackle glaze and application of brown/dark raised elements
Mark on the bottom: Four-character incised mark ("Chenghua Nian Zhi" 成化年製 - an apocryphal tribute mark of the period)
Conditions: Generally good condition. Shows normal patina of age, slight signs of wear on the surface and on the edge consistent with age.
The vase is finely hand-painted in polychrome enamels and depicts a vivid figurative scene of horsemen in traditional dress with banners, typical of historical and literary depictions of the era.
The piece is embellished with rich applied relief details with a dark bronze finish:
Stylized handles on the neck in the shape of Foo Dogs / guardian lions.
Reliefs of Chilong (Chinese dragons) applied to the shoulder of the vase.
Edge and details with incised geometric and floral motifs.
On the bottom there is a four-character mark stamped on a dark plaque.