Pair of Fine Egg and Spinach Biscuit Bowls, Kangxi (1662-1722)

Ref: W746

Archive item - not for sale

Pair of fine egg and spinach biscuit bowls, Kangxi (1662-1722), each raised on a short foot, with everted rim; the biscuit body decorated to the interior and exterior with splashes of green, yellow and ochre enamels, the foot with a mark within double circle all in underglaze cobalt blue.

Dimensions:

Diameter: 19cm. (7 1/2in.)

Condition:

Some faint hair-line cracks

Notes:

Egg and spinach decoration was made in imitation of the Tang dynasty 'three colour' sancai lead glaze. The Tang glaze was achieved by applying copper, iron and cobalt oxide lead glazes onto an earthenware body and was used for items intended for burial, including figures of warriors, horses and camels. During the Qing dynasty the sancai-inspired 'egg and spinach' glaze was used to decorate a wide variety of objects, including bowls, vases, figures and incense burners. The egg and spinach glaze was particularly popular during the Kangxi period as the direct visual reference to an earlier ceramic tradition corresponded with the Emperor’s antiquarian tastes and the consequent wider societal interest in an idealised ancient China.