Rare 康熙 Kangxi Beehive (Taibo Zun) Water Pot

An extremely rare beehive-shaped water pot, the form usually has the Chinese name jizhao zun (chicken-coop jar). The shape has also been called taibo zun after the Tang poet, Li Taibo, as its form bears a resemblance to his wine jar, which accompanies his reclining figure in popular images. The domed body is finely incised in light relief with three archaistic dragon roundels (medallions) covered overall in a pale blue clair de lune (moonlight) glaze of even tone draining from a white rim.  First seen in the 康熙 Kangxi period the clair de lune glaze is a high fired glaze with a low cobalt content (about 1%). The Chinese call this hue of blue, tian lan you, 'sky after the rain'. The underside exhibits the six character kaishu mark and period of the Kangxi emperor in underglaze blue written in a horizontal position beneath a clear glaze. 
清代 Qing Dynasty, 康熙 Kangxi Period (1662-1722)
Height:  3 5/16" (8.4cm)  Diameter:  5 1/8" (13cm)
Provenance:  Vermeer & Griggs Collection No. 617
 Virginia Bower, co-author of the book, Decorative Arts, Part II, Ceramics in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1998, at the time of publication was aware of only two other water pots known, "At least two pale blue 'beehive' water pots attributed to the
康熙 Kangxi period can be cited, one in the collection of August Warnecke, Hamburg. The other is in the collection of the University Museum, Philadelphia, collection of Dr. Frank Crozer Knowles.  Peachbloom 'beehive' water pots are more common than  pale blue."
Please refer to item #MO-520-617 when inquiring.


Bottom view showing the foot rim

 
Close-up of the carved archaistic dragon medallion


Horizontally written kaishu six character reign mark Da Qing Kangxi Nian Zhi

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