86 - Quadrangular vase in polychrome glazed porcelain in the Qianjiang Cai style, attributed to Cheng Song Shi - 程松石, China, Guangxu period (1875–1908), late 19th century

Quadrangular vase in polychrome glazed porcelain in the Qianjiang Cai style, attributed to Cheng Song Shi - 程松石, China, Guangxu period (1875–1908), late 19th century Quadrangular in shape, with a straight body that flares slightly toward the top, supported by a narrow neck that then flares widely, the vase features mascarons on two sides forming handles with movable rings. The decoration, rendered in a palette of blue-gray, green, yellow, pink, and brown, combines several floral and landscape compositions: a mountainous landscape with trees and rocks, a pine tree accompanied by a wading bird, flowering branches, and chrysanthemums. The various sides and the neck are embellished with long poetic inscriptions in Chinese characters written in cursive calligraphy, accompanied by several red seals. One of the inscriptions bears a cyclical date: winter of the year jiǎwǔ, or 1894. Height: 38 cm Hole under the base. The piece belongs to the tradition of scholar’s porcelain known as qianjiang cai, which emerged in Jingdezhen during the Tongzhi and Guangxu reigns and is characterized by the combination of painting, calligraphy, poetry, and seals on porcelain. Cheng Song Shi, whose given name was Cheng Qigao (程启诰), nicknamed Songshi and known as 松道人 (Song Daoren), is documented as a late Qing dynasty porcelain painter, active particularly between 1880 and 1900 and especially known for his flower-and-bird compositions, as well as his landscapes.