412.
JARS (PAIR)
PORCELAIN DECORATED IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND
OVERGLAZE POLYCHROME ENAMELS
JINGDEZHEN KILNS, JIANGXI PROVINCE
QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD (1662–1722),
CA. 1700–1720
ARMS: SÃO PAIO (FROM THE COUNT OF SÃO PAIO), MELO
HEIGHT 78.5 CM; RIM DIAMETER 26 CM;
FOOT DIAMETER 28.8 CM
INV. NOS. 102/1 AND 102/2
Pair of large baluster-shaped jars with a high
and broad trumpet neck, heavily potted on
the wheel in white porcelain, and coated
with a bluish glaze, except the thick foot
ring and the base itself, which turned an
orange-brown colour on contact with the kiln
atmosphere in the firing.
The decoration, painted in deep underglaze
cobalt blue and green, iron red, yellow, blue
and sepia enamels and gold, is symmetrically
organized around reserves containing the
client’s coat of arms – peninsular shield,
quarterly: I and IV, argent, an eagle displayed
sable; II and III, chequey Or and azure, four
pieces in pale and four in fess. Shield bordure
gules. Over all, an inescutcheon in bend
sinister argent, a double cross azure between
six roundels and within a bordure, all azure.
A gold coronet with five visible fleurons
surmounts the shield. The crest is absent.
All set within a fanciful cartouche
surmounted by a golden coronet 1 – these
reserves are repeated four times around the
body. The coats of arms on the front and
back are flanked by caryatids, represented to
just below the waist, bearing baskets of
flowers on their heads and supported by
columns, which keep apart the drapes of the
baldaquin over the coat of arms. The entire
ensemble is supported by an elaborate
cartouche, with foliate scrolls, foliage and
interlaced geometric motifs painted in blue
enamel. Some motifs were painted in
underglaze cobalt blue and completed with
overglaze blue enamel, which is rare. This
frames a vignette of a European landscape
with a river, trees and rocky hills. Under this
hangs a pendant with three tassels bearing
monograms with an interlaced design – LB –
twice repeated in a mirror-image, similar to
that found on some pieces bearing a coat of
arms attributed to D. Luís Peregrino de
Ataíde (1700-1758), made during the same
period 2 (cat. 427).
Round the base and upper part of the neck a
border with rococo-style foliate scrolls set
between two double circles drawn in
underglaze blue. Floral motifs, foliage, foliate
scrolls, double Cs and shapes imitating
metalwork complete the decoration.
32 .
ARMORIAL CHINESE EXPORT PORCELAIN