Objects & Vessels
Dragon & Phoenix Vase
A monumental Famille Rose porcelain vase bearing hand-sculpted dragon and phoenix motifs — a singular object from the Chinese imperial decorative tradition.
The Dragon & Phoenix Vase belongs to the Famille Rose tradition of Chinese export porcelain, a lineage defined by opulent polychrome enamels fired at low temperature to achieve colours of unparalleled richness. The body is hand-thrown and then worked in high relief: twin green dragons — symbols of imperial power and celestial energy — spiral upward along the neck, their scales individually articulated by the potter's tool. The central roundel depicts the eternal confrontation of the dragon and phoenix, rendered in cobalt, jade green, and gilt against a field of coral red. The ground colour — a deep vermilion achieved through multiple firings — is itself a mark of technical mastery, as the pigment is notoriously difficult to stabilise in the kiln. The foot ring is finished in a wave pattern of emerald green, grounding the composition and completing its cosmological symbolism. This piece is acquired directly from a specialist atelier operating in the Jingdezhen tradition and is accompanied by full provenance documentation.