313 - 19th Century Chinese School - Kangxi Style Double Gourd Vase

19th Century Chinese School - Kangxi Style Double Gourd Vase Glazed porcelain decorated in cobalt blue under a white glaze. Dimensions: 29 x 16 cm. Elegant Chinese porcelain vase with a double-gourd profile, known as a hulu, made during the 19th century following the decorative styles of the Qing dynasty, especially those developed during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor (1662-1722). The piece features a globular lower section with a central narrowing and a smaller upper section that culminates in a short neck with a circular mouth, a configuration traditionally associated in Chinese culture with longevity, prosperity, and good fortune. The surface is lavishly decorated with plum blossom branches, known as meihua, whose sinuous trunks and delicate branches are continuously distributed against an intense cobalt blue background. The blossoms, rendered in white through resist glaze, stand out with their rounded petals and carefully delineated centers, creating a refined chromatic contrast characteristic of Chinese blue and white porcelain. The plum blossom is one of the most cherished motifs in Eastern artistic tradition, a symbol of perseverance, renewal, and resilience in the face of adversity, as it blooms during the final months of winter. The ornamental composition is complemented by a border of geometric motifs and scrolls located at the transition between the two sections, while the lower area features a decorative band of vegetal inspiration. The treatment of the branches, the balanced distribution of the floral motifs, and the intensity of the blue evoke the celebrated porcelains of the Kangxi period, considered one of the great expressions of Jingdezhen ceramic production. During the 19th century, these designs experienced a significant revival, both for the Chinese domestic market and for European export, where Kangxi-inspired porcelains enjoyed particular prestige among collectors and enthusiasts of Eastern decorative arts. The piece exhibits ...