Vase Decorated With Dragons And Carp On Blue Background. China Qing Dynasty.

Hard porcelain vase, decorated with polychrome enamels on an underglaze cobalt blue background. The scene represents 2 dragons evolving in a sky dotted with clouds and flames above a body of water from which a carp emerges. This illustrates the Chinese legend of the 3 carp transformed into dragons, symbol of success through perseverance. The vase is made of hard, wheel-mounted porcelain, blown with the greatest care with cobalt blue then glazed. The decoration is painted in exceptionally thick enamels. The drawings are of excellent quality, the dragons have 5 claws. We do not know of any other vase enameled in this way with such pasty enamels. The hypothesis of an over-decoration made in the 19th century on an older vase to market it is weak because the vase is contemporary with the style of dragons, moreover a European intervention is impossible because it is obvious that the drawings were traced by a hand Asian. Finally, the hypothesis of a Japanese over-decor should be excluded because the style of the dragons would not correspond. Why did you use these atypical enamels which must have required special attention? This vase is absolutely exceptional. "Three carps went up the yellow river to the Dragon Gate waterfall to try to cross it and thus become "Dragon". After many attempts, two succeeded and, transformed into dragons, helped the third to overcome the obstacle ." Symbol of endurance, tenacity and success. China Qing period 19th century. Very damaged, broken and glued back together. However the base and the neck intact. Height: 46cm