Jingdezhen Chenghua Doucai Cups Decorated with Grape Design

Published: 18 May 2009 05:51:12

Jingdezhen Chenghua Doucai cups decorated with grape design, Ming Dynasty (1465-1487)4APBestCeramic

4APBestCeramic

Doucai is a kind of decorative porcelain formed by the combination of underglaze blue-and-white and overglaze decoration. Doucai enameling was invented in the early fifteenth century and perfected during the reign of the emperor Chenghua period (1465-87) in the Ming Dynasty. Apparently the emperor loved small, perfectly formed ceramic wares that he could hold in his hand. During his reign, a great many such pieces were produced for the imperial palace, particularly cups, small dishes and jars.4APBestCeramic

In time very little doucai wares were produced in the middle and late Ming dynasty, though some pieces do survive - mostly copies of Chenghua period pieces. Of note, the Chenghua wares are more highly valued by connoisseurs for their tactility and subtle charm.4APBestCeramic

Unearthed at Heseri’s mausoleum in 1962 at today’s Beijing Haidian district, the pair of doucai cups decorated with the grape design is a very good example of the technical perfection in Chenghua doucai wares, which features quiet and elegant blue-and-white, bright and smooth white glaze, soft color, as well as white and fine base.4APBestCeramic

Heseri died at seven years old, but was buried with a high standing. Her honor was granted by the Emperor Kang Xi'. One of the reasons was that her grandfather, Suoni, was a senior regent and the other was Heshelishi’s cousin, the Empress Xiao Cheng Ren of Kang Xi. The Empress died in childbirth, while giving birth to Prince Yin Reng, who became the crown prince of the Kangxi Emperor at the age of two. After her death, the Kang Xi Emperor left the position vacant probably due to the fact that her family helped him a great deal during the time when he was still not of age.4APBestCeramic

These cups are drawn with grapes, balsam pears, mulberries and green bamboos. At the bottom of the cup there are six characters, which were written by the Chenghua emperor.4APBestCeramic

The production of doucai wares is technically difficult and required two firings: the design's outline is painted in underglaze blue, and after firing at a high temperature, the outlines are then colored with red, yellow, green and aubergine overglaze enamels, and the object will be fired again at a lower temperature.4APBestCeramic

Now, people can see this pair of cups at Beijing Capital Museum.4APBestCeramic