Xuande Blue and White Porcelain Jar

The four treasures on the ruyi head, the three treasures on the handle, and the ** on the end of the handle made up the Eight Auspicious Symbols. These were the Eight Treasures of Tibetan Buddhism, eight objects symbolizing the power of Buddhism. The Eight Auspicious Symbols were commonly used as decorations on Ming and Qing porcelain, but seeing them depicted on a jade ruyi was truly rare.

This ruyi was made from an exceptionally large piece of jade and had been finely carved with exquisite workmanship, displaying an unmistakably imperial air. Judging from its patina, carving, and other characteristics, it should have been a masterpiece from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. Most remarkable of all, the ruyi was in perfect condition, without even the slightest chip or bump. It was a masterpiece among masterpieces, enough to make anyone sigh in heartfelt admiration.

Seeing that no one present had any doubts, Zhao Qirui exclaimed, "What a jade ruyi!"

Then he cupped his hands toward everyone and said, "Sorry to trouble you all, but please let me have this treasure. I'll thank you in advance."

Since he had put it that way, everyone was naturally willing to give Zhao Qirui face. Besides, only Zhu Dafu and Zhao Qirui present had the means to buy the ruyi, and Zhu Dafu had already acquired a set of furniture, so he certainly would not compete for it again.

After thanking everyone, Zhao Qirui turned to Grandpa Li and said, "Old Li, I genuinely like this ruyi. Sorry to trouble you, but please name a fair price."

Grandpa Li was delighted. After pondering for a while, he said, "Since you truly like it, I won't stand on ceremony. I'll let you have it for two million."

Two million. At auction, a jade ruyi in such condition might certainly fetch more than that. But in a normal sale, it was still somewhat expensive. Still, the saying went, "Ask a sky-high price and bargain from there." Although Grandpa Li's price could not exactly be called sky-high, it still had to be negotiated.

Zhao Qirui thought for a moment and said, "Old Li, this jade ruyi might fetch a little more at auction, but the difference wouldn't be that great. How about this? I'll offer a fair price of 1.6 million. What do you think?"

Grandpa Li thought for a long while. 1.6 million was acceptable, but no one ever complained about having more money, so he raised the price. "1.6 million is a little low. How about 1.8 million?"

Zhao Qirui knitted his brows slightly. After considering it, he said, "How about we split the difference? 1.7 million. Would that work?"

Grandpa Li thought for a moment, then nodded. "All right. We'll do as you say."

Next, as expected, the doucai bowl with mandarin ducks in a lotus pond design and a recessed foot was sold to Uncle Wu for 65,000 yuan. For a moment, everyone was delighted.

At that point, Zhao Xueyi said to Grandpa Li, "Old Li, after collecting for so many years, don't you have any other fine treasures to broaden our horizons?"

Grandpa Li gave an embarrassed smile. "I'm terribly sorry, everyone. I've already let a few masterpieces go to close friends." He paused, then continued, "But if you're asking about an object with obvious artistic value, I do have one more. However, I had several experts examine it, and there was some disagreement. Would you still like to see it?"

With those words from Grandpa Li, everyone's curiosity was piqued, and they all said they wanted to take a look.

About five minutes later, Grandpa Li walked in carrying a blue and white porcelain jar. The moment he reached the doorway, everyone was deeply captivated by the jar in his arms. When he placed it on the table, everyone saw the jar in its entirety and drew a sharp breath, turning to look at Grandpa Li.

Grandpa Li seemed to have anticipated their reaction. Beaming, he said, "This jar is 22.4 centimeters tall and 28 centimeters in diameter. It's a blue and white porcelain jar with scrolling floral designs from the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty."

As soon as he finished speaking, before anyone else could react, Qian Changxing eagerly asked, "Old Li, may I examine it firsthand?"

After seeing Old Li nod, he put on gloves and carefully picked up the blue and white porcelain jar. At the end, he examined it closely with a magnifying glass. After putting it down, he said excitedly, "This blue and white porcelain jar is clearly an authentic period piece—a treasure with an obvious provenance! Old Li, were the experts you invited earlier mistaken?"

Although his words affirmed the jar's value, they sounded unpleasant no matter how one heard them. Grandpa Li frowned deeply, and Zhao Qirui simply pulled Qian Changxing aside.

Afterward, Uncle Wu and the others came forward one by one to examine it. Zhao Xueyi found nothing wrong after looking it over, but after Uncle Wu and Zhu Dafu finished, a trace of doubt showed in their eyes.

Finally, Chu Chen put on his gloves and began carefully examining the blue and white porcelain jar as well.

Gloves were also a standard tool in the antiques trade. Many antiques were precious and delicate, and the bacteria and moisture on people's hands were harmful to their preservation. Wearing gloves provided a measure of protection.

Moreover, the gloves Chu Chen wore were covered with tiny latex particles that prevented slipping, keeping him from accidentally dropping and breaking the antique.

The moment Chu Chen picked up the blue and white porcelain jar, he could not help praising it inwardly.

Blue and white porcelain, also known as blue-and-white porcelain on a white ground and commonly abbreviated as blue and white, was one of the mainstream types of Chinese porcelain. It belonged to the category of underglaze painted porcelain.

Blue and white porcelain was made with cobalt ore containing cobalt oxide as its raw material. Designs were painted onto the ceramic body, which was then covered with a layer of transparent glaze and fired once at high temperature in a reducing flame. After firing, the cobalt material appeared blue. It had strong coloring power, vivid coloration, a high firing success rate, and stable color.

The earliest signs of blue and white porcelain had already appeared during the Tang and Song dynasties. Mature blue and white porcelain emerged at the Hutian Kiln in Jingdezhen during the Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, blue and white became the mainstream of porcelain production, reaching its peak during the Qing Kangxi period.

Among them, the blue and white porcelain fired during the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty became famous throughout the world for its simple yet elegant forms, crystalline and brilliant blue color, and rich variety of decorative patterns. Its firing techniques reached the pinnacle of Chinese blue and white porcelain.

Wang Shixing of the Ming Dynasty recorded in Guangzhi Yi: "In our dynasty, the Xuande and Chenghua kilns were the finest. The Xuande kiln excelled in blue and white, while the Chenghua kiln excelled in multicolored porcelain."

Jingdezhen Taolu praised Xuande kiln porcelain with the words, "Every material was refined, but blue and white was the most precious." Its artistic achievement was said to have "opened an unprecedented wonder in the dynasty."

Xu Zhiheng recorded in Yinliuzhai Shuo Ci: "The beauty of Xuande kiln porcelain crowned the entire Ming dynasty. Not only Xuande red and Xuande yellow shone brilliantly, but blue and white and multicolored wares also flourished in great numbers, all becoming the models for later generations..."

All these appraisals spoke of the unsurpassed achievements of Xuande imperial kiln porcelain craftsmanship.

The inside of this blue and white porcelain jar was plain and undecorated. The neck was decorated with broken branches and flowers, while lotus petals adorned the shoulder and area near the base. The main design on the body consisted of scrolling peonies, camellias, lotuses, chrysanthemums, and other flowers. The lines flowed freely, and the forms were graceful and pleasing.

The scrolling floral design painted on the body of the jar was also known as the "Longevity Vine." Because its structure continued without interruption, it symbolized "unceasing vitality." The composition was spacious and natural, with well-judged areas of blank space that avoided the common drawbacks of scrolling designs—excessive density and crampedness. The brushwork was delicate. Although meticulous, it was never weak or overly coquettish; amid the interplay of dark and light tones, it uniquely displayed the bold spirit of Xuande blue.

The body and glaze were warm and lustrous, with an inner radiance that seemed to have endured for centuries without fading. They complemented the rich and dignified blue-and-white decoration perfectly, embodying the character of fine porcelain. White glaze covered the center of the foot, while inside a double blue ring was a six-character, two-line regular-script mark reading, "Made during the Xuande reign of the Great Ming." Its style was plain yet vigorous, brimming with antique charm.

This blue and white porcelain jar alone demonstrated that the high praise bestowed by the sages of the past was no exaggeration. It could also be judged with eighty percent certainty to be an authentic blue and white porcelain jar with scrolling floral designs from the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty—and a masterpiece at that.

However, taking into account what Grandpa Li had just said, as well as the doubt in Uncle Wu and Zhu Dafu's eyes, Chu Chen guessed that there must be more to the matter. Thus, he decisively activated his supernatural ability, this divine tool.

After using his supernatural ability, Chu Chen was utterly astonished. This blue and white porcelain jar was actually a high-grade fake—and a high-grade fake from the Republic of China period at that. He could not help forming a suspicion. Then he took out his magnifying glass and carefully examined the jar inside and out once more. At once, he understood the situation.

Chu Chen carefully placed the blue and white porcelain jar on the table, then gently shook his head at Uncle Wu and the others.

"Ha!"

Qian Changxing, standing to one side, let out a strange laugh. Then, with a disdainful expression, he said, "Young man, don't get arrogant. This is clearly a blue and white porcelain jar with an unmistakable provenance, yet you're saying it's fake? Wu Ziping, I think you'd better take him home and have him study for another ten years or so. Otherwise, he'll only make a fool of himself in public."

Chu Chen grew annoyed when he heard this. "True is true, and fake is fake. Unlike certain people, I won't keep my eyes open and spout nonsense when I'm already too blind to see clearly."

Qian Changxing was not angry. He laughed and said contemptuously, "Fine. Since you say it's fake, point out the parts that aren't genuine and show everyone."

Chu Chen glanced around the room and gave Uncle Wu and the others a reassuring look. Then he said to Grandpa Li, "Old Li, do you mind if I say a few words?"

Grandpa Li shook his head. "Of course not. To be honest, the problem with this blue and white porcelain jar has troubled me for more than twenty years. I'd be delighted if you could reveal the answer sooner."

Chu Chen nodded, organized his thoughts, and began, "I imagine everyone has already examined this blue and white porcelain jar carefully. Its form is beautiful, the decorative patterns are painted with great precision, the lines are smooth, and the details are clear, giving the impression of a single continuous stroke. Its patina is also thick and heavy. Judging from these points, it is a genuine piece from the Xuande period."

"We know that Xuande blue and white porcelain had a dense, fine, pure white, and hard body. But take a look. Under a magnifying glass, you can see that the body of this blue and white porcelain jar is white with a slight yellow tint."

Qian Changxing interrupted, "That tiny bit of yellow is nothing more than you nitpicking. What can it prove? What a joke!"

Chu Chen glanced at him. "Why are you in such a hurry? Have I finished speaking?"

Qian Changxing sneered. "Fine, go on. Let's hear what profound insight you have."

Chu Chen shook his head and continued, "Now let's discuss the blue pigment. Everyone knows that blue and white porcelain used two kinds of material: imported and domestic. Judging from the surviving pieces passed down from the imperial palace, imported material was used primarily for the designs. This imported blue pigment came from Persia and was called Sumaliqing."

"Porcelain fired with this blue pigment had a blackish-blue, deep, and intense coloration, with a naturally diffused artistic effect. The pigment melted into the glaze as though it had penetrated into the body itself. In especially dark areas, silver-black crystal spots appeared, taking on a tin-like sheen under certain lighting. The crystals were triangular, and touching the glaze revealed an uneven surface."