Superbe Chinese bleu-de-Hue 'Carp leaping the Dragon Gate" (鲤鱼跳龙门') blue and white export porcelain bowl for the Vietnamese market. China for Vietnam, 19th century 2nd half, Tự Đức (1847–1883, 嗣德) reign period; Qing dynasty, Tongzhi (1861-75, 同治) period. NeiFu 內府 mark. Particularly rare! We are offering more Blue-de-Hue examples from the same collection, check our other listings. We can pack and ship them together to reduce delivery costs. The bowl is finely potted with round walls, supported on a short foot. Decorated to the exterior with a continouos scene depicting a dragon along the top-rim. The dragon with bulging eyes spitting fire in flight. Above the shallow ring foot a band of waves from which two carps emerge, one of which is blowing a big gourd-shaped bubble, other being hit by dragon's fire. Inscribed to the base with underglaze blue two-character NeiFu (nội phủ / 內府) mark which can be translated as 'Inner Court' (or: palace treasury; imperial storehouse). Dimensions: diameter - 12,6 cm; height - 5,8 cm. Weight - 228 g. Bleu de Hue is a type of Chinese porcelain made for Vietnamese court known for its intricate designs and distinct blue color. It's called after 'Hue', 19th-century capital of Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945), last royal rulers in Vietnam. The history of this porcelain dates back to the early 18th century when kings of the Le-Trinh dynasty in Vietnam ordered porcelain pieces from China. Each ruler ordered ceramics of his own taste for use in his court, as well as presentation pieces to give to members of royal families and mandarin officials. Bleu de hue ware designs were done by Vietnamese artists, but the production was commissioned mostly in Jingdezhen, later also in other kilns in China. Domestic versions of bleu de hue were also produced in Vietnam during the Minh Mang (1820-1841) and Thieu Tri (1841-1847) reigns, but they were not very popular. Some pieces of bleu de hue have poems painted on them. In the middle 19th century, metal rims became popular on bleu de hue wares, as they were seen as a way to protect the rim from damages. Despite the popularity of these porcelains, the production of bleu de hue eventually declined and came to an end in the early 20th century. Today, bleu de hue porcelain is highly sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts. Its intricate designs and historical significance have made it a prized possession for many, and it continues to be admired for its beauty and elegance. According to the legend, a carp that could swim upstream and then leap the falls of the Yellow River at Dragon Gate (Longmen, 龙门) would be transformed into a dragon. This motif symbolizes success in the civil service examinations. The Dragon Gate is located at the border of Shanxi and Shaanxi where the Yellow River flows through a cleft in the Longmen mountains, supposedly made by Yu the Great, who cut through the mountain. Forceful water brought many carps down the river, and those couldn't swim back. The carp complained to Yu the Great. His wife, the Jade Emperor's daughter, explained to her father on behalf of the carp. The Jade Emperor promised that carps could leap over the Dragon Gate, they would become mighty dragons. Thus, all the carp competed at a yearly competition to leap the Longmen falls; those who succeeded were immediately transformed into dragons and flew off into the sky. Provenance: Belgian private collection, Brussel's area. Daylight pictures included. References - similar, but little bigger, bowl was sold on Catawiki for 500 EUR in 2024, last picture. Conditions report: excellent condition, fritting to the top-rim only. Typical for period firing faults. Some use-related scratches to the glaze, mostly on the interior. Strong white light tested. Check pictures for details. Worldwide delivery with online tracking. We combine deliveries, but more, pay for the one delivery only.