A COPPER-RED OLIVE-SHAPED VASE, GANLANPING MARK AND PERIOD OF KANGXI

the bulging body rising to an almost cylindrical neck from a slightly splayed foot, resting on a broad straight-cut foot ring with a recessed base, attractively covered on the exterior with a rich glaze of deep copper-red colour thinning to white towards the rim and pooling in a thick darker layer around the foot, the interior, rim and base left white, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark within a double ring in underglaze blue

Probably Sotheby’s London, 29th February 1972, lot 277.

Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 2, no. 828.

There are four star cracks and two single hairlines to the sides (three star cracks showing through with associated hairlines on the interior). There is a minute speck to the rim.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Kangxi Emperor (r. AD 1662-1722), who was highly interested in technical progress, encouraged the exploration of new glaze recipes at Jingdezhen as well as the recovery of former techniques that had been lost. Deep copper-red glazes had been successfully produced during the Yongle (AD 1403-24) and Xuande (AD 1426-35) reigns, but their production, which was complicated and costly due to a large failure rate, had been abandoned thereafter. The Emperor was instrumental in the successful revival of these glazes during his reign, and superb copper-reds, as seen on this vase, were one of the first triumphs of the newly opened imperial kilns at Jingdezhen in the Qing dynasty (AD 1644-1911).

A similar larger vase in the National Museum of China, Beijing, is illustrated in Zhongguo Guojia Bowuguan guancang wenwu yanjiu congshu/Studies on the Collections of the National Museum of China. Ciqi juan [Porcelain section]: Qingdai [Qing dynasty], Shanghai, 2007, pl. 23; another was sold in these rooms, 15th May 1977, lot 175.