Xuande Blue and White Porcelain Jar

The four treasures at the ruyi's head, plus the three treasures on the handle, and the one at the handle's end, make up the Eight Auspicious Symbols, which are the Eight Treasures of Tibetan Buddhism, symbolizing the eight images of Buddhist power. They are often used as decorative motifs on Ming and Qing dynasty porcelain, but their appearance on a jade ruyi is truly rare.

This ruyi is exceptionally large and exquisitely crafted, exuding an undeniable imperial aura. Judging by its patina and carving, it should be a masterpiece from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. What's even more remarkable is that this ruyi is in perfect condition, without a single chip or scratch, making it a gem among gems. One can't help but sigh in genuine admiration.

Seeing that no one in the room had any objections, Zhao Qirui exclaimed, "What a magnificent jade ruyi!"

He then cupped his hands to the crowd and said, "Would you all be so kind as to let me have this treasure? I'd be most grateful."

With Zhao Qirui having put it so politely, everyone naturally obliged. Besides, the only ones present capable of purchasing this ruyi were Zhu Dafu and Zhao Qirui. Zhu Dafu had already acquired a set of furniture earlier and certainly wouldn't compete now.

After thanking everyone, Zhao Qirui turned to Grandpa Li and said, "Old Li, I truly love this ruyi. Please give me a fair price."

Grandpa Li, delighted, pondered for a moment before saying, "Since this gentleman truly likes it, I won't be coy. I'll let it go for two million."

Two million. At an auction, a jade ruyi of this quality might fetch more, but for a private sale, it was still a bit steep. However, as the saying goes, "start high and bargain down." While Grandpa Li's price wasn't outrageously high, it was still negotiable.

Zhao Qirui thought for a moment and said, "Old Li, it might fetch more at auction, but the difference won't be huge. How about this: I'll offer a fair price of 1.6 million. What do you say?"

Grandpa Li pondered for a long time. 1.6 million was acceptable, but who would ever say no to more money? So, he countered, "1.6 million is a bit low. How about 1.8 million?"

Zhao Qirui frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "How about we meet in the middle? 1.7 million. Is that acceptable?"

Grandpa Li considered it for a moment and nodded. "Alright, we'll do as you say."

Next, the Wucai porcelain bowl with lotus pond and mandarin duck pattern was, as expected, acquired by Uncle Wu for 65,000 yuan. Everyone was in high spirits.

At this point, Zhao Xueyi turned to Grandpa Li and asked, "Old Li, after so many years of collecting, do you have any other treasures that might broaden our horizons?"

Grandpa Li smiled sheepishly. "My apologies, everyone. I've already let a few of my finest pieces go to friends. However," he paused, "if you're looking for something with significant artistic value, I do have one piece. A few masters have examined it, but there's some debate. Would you still like to see it?"

Grandpa Li's words piqued everyone's curiosity, and they all expressed their eagerness to see it.

About five minutes later, Grandpa Li entered carrying a blue and white porcelain jar. The moment he reached the doorway, everyone was captivated by the jar in his arms. When he placed it on the table, revealing its full appearance, everyone gasped and turned to look at Grandpa Li.

Grandpa Li seemed to have anticipated their reaction and said with a smile, "This jar stands 22.4 centimeters tall and has a diameter of 28 centimeters. It is indeed a blue and white porcelain jar with scrolling floral pattern from the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty."

Before anyone could react to his statement, Qian Changxing eagerly asked, "Old Li, may I examine it?"

Seeing Grandpa Li nod, he put on gloves and carefully inspected the blue and white porcelain jar. He then examined it closely with a magnifying glass. Putting it down, he exclaimed excitedly, "This blue and white porcelain jar is clearly an authentic period piece, an obvious treasure! Were the masters you consulted earlier mistaken, Old Li?"

While his words affirmed the jar's value, they sounded rather unpleasant. Grandpa Li frowned. Zhao Qirui simply pulled Qian Changxing aside.

Afterward, Uncle Wu and the others took turns examining it. Zhao Xueyi found no issues, but Uncle Wu and Zhu Dafu's eyes held a hint of doubt after their inspection.

Finally, Chu Chen put on gloves and began to carefully examine the blue and white porcelain jar.

Gloves are also a common tool in the antique trade. We know that many antiques are precious and delicate. Human hands have bacteria and moisture, which are not conducive to preservation. Wearing gloves provides a protective measure.

Furthermore, the gloves Chu Chen was wearing had tiny latex particles that provided a non-slip grip, preventing the accidental dropping and breaking of antiques.

The moment Chu Chen held the blue and white porcelain jar, he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Qinghua porcelain, also known as white-ground blue-and-white porcelain, is commonly referred to as Qinghua. It is one of the main types of Chinese porcelain and belongs to underglaze painted porcelain.

Qinghua porcelain is made using cobalt ore, which contains cobalt oxide, as the raw material. Decorations are painted on the ceramic body, then covered with a layer of transparent glaze, and fired once in a high-temperature reducing atmosphere. The cobalt pigment turns blue after firing, characterized by its strong coloring power, vibrant hue, high firing success rate, and stable color.

Proto-Qinghua porcelain appeared in the Tang and Song dynasties, while mature Qinghua porcelain emerged in the Jingdezhen Hutian Kiln during the Yuan dynasty. Qinghua became the mainstream of porcelain production in the Ming dynasty and reached its peak development during the Kangxi period of the Qing dynasty.

The Qinghua porcelain produced during the Xuande reign of the Ming Dynasty is renowned worldwide for its simple and elegant shapes, lustrous and vibrant blue color, and diverse patterns. Its firing technology reached the pinnacle of Chinese Qinghua porcelain.

Wang Shixing's "Guang Zhi Yi" from the Ming Dynasty states, "Our dynasty favors the Xuande and Chenghua kilns. The Xuande kiln excels in blue and white, while the Chenghua kiln excels in polychrome."

"Jingdezhen Tao Lu" praises Xuande kiln porcelain, saying, "All materials are exquisite, and blue and white is the most valuable." Its artistic achievements are described as "creating a marvel for an era."

Xu Zhiheng's "Yin Liu Zhai Shuo Ci" notes, "The beauty of the Xuande kiln is unparalleled in the Ming Dynasty, not only for its Xuande red and Xuande yellow but also for its numerous innovations in blue and white and polychrome wares, all of which became models for later generations..."

These evaluations all attest to the peak achievements of Xuande imperial kiln porcelain artistry.

This blue and white porcelain jar has a plain interior. The neck is decorated with scrolling flowers, and the shoulder and near the base are adorned with lotus petal patterns. The main decorative motif on the body consists of peonies, camellias, lotuses, and chrysanthemums in a scrolling floral design. The lines are fluid and natural, and the forms are beautiful and pleasing.

The scrolling floral pattern on the jar's body is also known as "myriad longevity vine" (万寿藤). Due to its continuous and interconnected structure, it symbolizes "eternal life" or "endless vitality." The composition is sparse and natural, with appropriate use of white space, avoiding the common cramped and dense appearance of scrolling patterns. The brushwork is delicate; although meticulously executed, it does not appear weak or overly ornate. Amidst the varying shades of blue, it uniquely displays the bold spirit of Xuande blue.

The clay and glaze are warm and lustrous, with a hidden radiance, truly giving the impression of enduring beauty after centuries. This complements the rich and vibrant blue glaze, embodying the quality of fine porcelain. The center of the base is glazed in white, with a double blue circle enclosing the six-character mark "Made in the Xuande reign of the Great Ming" in two lines of regular script, appearing simple, robust, and ancient.

This blue and white porcelain jar demonstrates that the high praise from past experts is not unfounded. It can also be judged that this jar has an eighty percent chance of being an authentic, period-correct blue and white porcelain jar with scrolling floral pattern from the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty, and moreover, a fine piece.

However, considering Grandpa Li's earlier words and the doubtful expressions on Uncle Wu and Zhu Dafu's faces, Chu Chen suspected there was more to the story. Thus, he decisively employed his special ability, a divine artifact.

Upon using his ability, Chu Chen was astonished. This blue and white porcelain jar was actually a high imitation, specifically a Republic of China era imitation. This led him to a particular conjecture. He then took out his magnifying glass and meticulously examined it inside and out, and his mind was made up.

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

"Ha!"

Qian Changxing let out a mocking laugh from the side, then said with disdain, "Young man, don't be arrogant. This is clearly an authentic blue and white porcelain jar, yet you claim it's not real. Wu Ziping, I think you should go back and study for another ten years, lest you embarrass yourself by coming out here."

Hearing this, Chu Chen felt a surge of anger and retorted, "What's real is real, and what's not is not. I'm not like some people who, despite being old and having failing eyesight, insist on speaking falsehoods with their eyes wide open."

Qian Changxing wasn't angered and chuckled, saying with disdain, "Fine, since you say it's not real, then point out the part that makes it not real for everyone to see."

Chu Chen scanned the surroundings, gave Uncle Wu and the others a reassuring look, and then said to Grandpa Li, "Old Li, you don't mind if I explain, do you?"

Grandpa Li shook his head. "Of course, I don't mind. To be honest, the issue with this blue and white porcelain jar has troubled me for over twenty years. I'd be glad if you could reveal the mystery sooner rather than later."

Chu Chen nodded, organized his thoughts, and began to speak. "This blue and white porcelain jar, I believe everyone has examined it closely. The shape is elegant, the decoration is meticulously executed, the lines are fluid, and the patterns are clear, giving a sense of being completed in one go. Furthermore, the patina is thick. Based on these points, it appears to be a genuine Xuande period piece."

"We know that Xuande blue and white porcelain has a fine, dense, white, and hard body. But please look closely. With a magnifying glass, you can see that the body of this blue and white porcelain jar is white with a hint of yellow."

At this point, Qian Changxing interjected, "Such a slight hint of yellow is just you splitting hairs. What does that prove? What a joke!"

Chu Chen glanced at him and said, "What's the rush? Am I finished speaking?"

Qian Changxing scoffed, "Fine, continue. Let's hear your brilliant insights."

Chu Chen shook his head and went on, "Let's talk about this blue pigment. Everyone knows that blue and white porcelain uses both imported and domestic materials. From extant imperial pieces, we see that imported materials were primarily used. This imported blue pigment comes from Persia and is called Sumaliqing."

"Porcelain fired with this pigment has a black-blue color, deep and rich, with a natural, diffused artistic effect. The pigment melts into the glaze, appearing to penetrate the very body of the porcelain. Especially in the concentrated areas, silver-black crystalline spots appear, which have a tin-like sheen under certain light and form triangular crystals. You can feel the unevenness of the glaze with your hand."