When buying Chinese antique turquoise glaze deities, the first thing you should know is the type of glaze. This blue glaze was developed from copper and first appeared in the 14th century. By the 17th century, it had reached its perfection and became extremely popular in China and Europe. Traditionally, this glaze was applied to biscuit. Depending on the dynasty, it can be light or dark. It can also contain greenish blue streaks and have a net of crackle.
Su San Cai
The color turquoise, which derives from copper, was first used on Chinese ceramics around the 14th century. By the 17th century, it had reached its pinnacle of perfection and was extremely popular throughout China and Europe. It was applied on biscuits, bowls, and vases. During the Qianlong dynasty, turquoise glazes often had green speckles and darker streaks of greenish blue.
The design of sancai pottery is highly varied, including the shape of the spout. Some of the pieces are shaped like birds, while others are round or rectangular. A variety of non-Chinese shapes are used, and some can be traced to ancient Greek pottery. Typically, the spout of these ceramics is in the form of a bird or feng huang.
The technique of applying sancai glaze was originally created to mimic bronzes, but was later revived in the Tang dynasty around 675. During this period, sancai glazed pottery wares were produced at a small number of kilns. These porcelains are famous for their beautiful multicolor glazes. The technique was later adopted for utilitarian and mortuary pottery, and the pottery wares were exported as far as Egypt.
Another ancient Chinese technique for making sancai wares was the use of enamels. These enamels were used to create decorative effects on contemporary pieces. In addition to the three basic colors, they could also contain brown, cream, or amber. However, the sancai glaze was never meant to appear extremely old.
Kang Xi Wu Cai
Chinese antique turquoise glaze deities are popular with collectors worldwide. This beautiful hue is associated with Buddhist and Taoist beliefs. The deity is often represented on items that are decorated with motifs. Various colors of turquoise are used to decorate such items. Many of the items are decorated with lotus leaf cups, vases of different kinds, and Buddha and Taoist figures.
The turquoise glaze owes its color to copper oxide, which is present in the alkaline glaze mixture. It has a long history, dating back to the Tang dynasty. This glaze was also popular with Middle Eastern potters. However, the technology used to make it varied depending on the materials that were used to make it.
Ru ware was produced in North China, near the capital of the Northern Song. The glaze contains small amounts of iron oxide, which turns green under a reducing atmosphere. The range of colors is vast, ranging from a pale robin’s egg to a rich robin’s egg. The glaze also is covered in reddish brown crackles, a result of the glaze cooling faster than the body, making it stretch and split.
The earliest pieces of porcelain used a palette known as wucai. The Wanli period (1573-1619) was marked by the appearance of the wucai palette, which included green, red, yellow, and black. The following century, the wucai style was replaced by the famille verte, which used green and iron red.
The three major religious systems in China are Confucianism and Daoism. The Daoist deity Laozi is frequently represented on porcelain as a decoration. The Laozi is a large figure with a large forehead and is often accompanied by the Eight Immortals. This deity is often depicted with a staff or a peach, which represent harmony and mirth.
Xuande mark
There are only seven examples of Xuande-marked Chinese antique turquoise-glazed porcelain in existence today, seven different dishes from different reign periods. The reason for the rarity is that these pieces were not produced in standard imperial kilns and were created individually. Three of these dishes are in the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, and two more are in the British Museum in London. They are the only examples of this type of pottery that have ever been offered for auction.
This rare and highly desirable mark dates from the Ming dynasty, and is usually in seal form writing in cobalt blue. The mark is also sometimes found in a vertical format. This period was a time of great ceramic innovation and refinement. Kilns were encouraged to try new techniques and paint designs. This period was also an important time for exploration of the Indian Ocean and of Islamic metalwork. It was also a time when cobalt preparation techniques were refined.
During the Ming dynasty, this glaze was widely used on stoneware, porcelain, and biscuit. Its name has been lost but the base color is probably ‘brown purple’. Objects with this mark are characterized by intricate scenes and designs. They are often Buddhist and Taoist figures.
In general, Xuande-mark porcelain is a good indicator of imperial reign. The marking is usually inscribed in a seal-like script and is written in cobalt blue. Occasionally, the mark is apocryphal, but does not reduce the value of the item.
Xuande period
A Xuande period Chinese antique turquoise-glazed deity is a large, striking and elegant piece. These pieces are made from copper and show brilliant turquoise glazes. These turquoise glazes are often adorned with fine crackle and decorated with engraved decoration. The turquoise glaze also carries other related colours, including apple green and leaf green. Both of these greens are applied over crackled gray glazes and were probably introduced relatively late in the period.
There are only seven known Xuande period turquoise-glazed pieces, each with a different reign mark. Unlike the other turquoise-glazed porcelains, these pieces were not produced as standard production in the imperial kilns. Instead, each turquoise-glazed piece was conceived individually and was never produced in great numbers. Three examples are housed in the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, and two are held at the British Museum in London. Only two of these pieces have ever been sold at auction.
A Xuande period Chinese antique turquoise-glazed deity is rare and extremely valuable. It was used to worship the emperor and was a common gift for housewarmings. It was also used to express a person’s good fortune. It was a very popular decorative object in China and also in Europe. A Xuande period Chinese antique turquoise-glazed deity is worth a minimum of $75,000 USD.
This fine pottery was exported to the Western world and later became known as Buccaro ware. Later, it was copied by the English and the Dutch. Its exquisite detail made it highly desirable in 17th century Europe.
Xuande vase
The Xuande vase, with its turquoise glaze and deity design, is an outstanding example of early Chinese pottery. It was probably made in Jingdezhen around the year 1300 and was sent to Pope Benedict XII in 1338. It has silver-gilt mounts and was probably used as a gift for the Pope. The vase’s mounts were added in Europe in the late fourteenth century, but were removed by the early nineteenth century. This vase was not made to the same high standards as wares produced in Europe, but was deemed suitable for everyday use.
It is possible that turquoise was first used during the Yongle period (1403-24) and was only later introduced in the Xuande period. There are at least seven Xuande turquoise-glazed porcelains known, and some fragmentary pieces have been excavated from the Xuande stratum of the Ming imperial kiln site in Jingdezhen. In addition, there is an unmarked turquoise piece from the early Ming period preserved in the National Palace Museum. A turquoise incense burner is also attributed to the Xuande reign, and is included in the Special Exhibition of Hsuan-te imperial porcelain in Taipei.
Another important feature of Xuande wares is their use of coloured glazes. These glazes were originally applied on stoneware, biscuits, and porcelain. In China, aubergine was associated with turquoise, and the colour may have been associated with that colour from the Ming period. It is used on a wide range of objects, including vases and other vases, as well as Buddhist and Taoist figures.
Xuande vases with turquoise glazes can be distinguished by their color. They may be red, green, or blue in hue. Earlier examples of these pieces tend to have more vibrant blues than later ones. Occasionally, a vase with turquoise glaze has a more subtle inscription or decoration on it.
