70 - Vase; China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century.

Vase; China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century. Glazed porcelain. Celadon. It bears a mark on the base. Measurements: 55 x 34 x 34 cm. Vase with a lobed profile, inspired by the shape of the double gourd (hulu), a form with a long tradition in Chinese decorative arts. Its silhouette, composed of two bulbous sections stacked one atop the other and joined by a central narrowing, stands out for the balance of its proportions and the purity of its lines. The surface features a bluish celadon glaze, whose crackled finish adds visual depth and textural richness. The gourd shape, known in China as hulu, also carries symbolic meaning associated with prosperity, longevity, and protection. Celadon glazes have held a prominent place in the history of Chinese ceramics since medieval times, prized for their chromatic nuances and the subtlety of their surfaces. During the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), ceramic production reached a high degree of technical and formal sophistication, with a wide variety of monochrome glazes that revived and reinterpreted earlier traditions. During the 19th century, Chinese porcelain maintained a significant presence in Asian and international markets, prized both for its technical quality and its formal richness. Vases with traditional silhouettes, such as this example, reflected a taste for objects capable of combining ornamental value with cultural significance, and were part of a production intended for both the domestic market and the export trade.