Water Pot

About the Art

The glaze on this water pot represents a high achievement in porcelain art at the imperial kilns during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor. It is often referred to as “peach bloom” due to its velvety color ranging from pink to red to green. The glaze was difficult to work with. A transparent glaze was applied to the vessel, then a copper glaze was blown onto the surface, followed by another transparent glaze. Various factors in the firing created the final result, which was always somewhat unpredictable. Items in the color were highly valued.

Made for a scholar’s desk, this water pot would have held water for washing ink brushes or displaying a flower. It is one of a set of eight different shapes that used the peach bloom glaze. Known as taibaizun, it references the shape of a wine vessel associated with the poet Li Bai (701–762), famous for his love of wine.

FEATURED IMAGE
Artist(s) unknown (China, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period, 1662–1722), Water Pot, 1662–1722, porcelain with “peach bloom” glaze, 3 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches (8.9 x 12 cm). Museum purchase, 1963.23