This pair of large Jingdezhen porcelain vases brings together the vivid palette of famille-rose enamels, a richly patterned yellow ground and the celebrated Hundred Horses theme. Each vase features a long neck with scrolling floral decoration, gilt dragon roundels, a red-and-gold shoulder with dragon motifs, and a wide central panel filled with horses among pine trees, rocks and mountain scenery. The pair is a contemporary Qianlong-style work with an imitative reign mark, not an authenticated Qing-dynasty antique.
Materials and Dimensions
- Materials: fine kaolin porcelain, famille-rose enamels, yellow and iron-red grounds, and hand-applied gilding
- Dimensions (each vase): 84 cm high; 29 cm mouth diameter; 29.5 cm base diameter
- Decoration: hand-painted Hundred Horses scene, pierced chi-dragon handles and layered gilt borders
- Mark: Qianlong reign mark (imitation)
Craft and Construction
Each vase is formed with a broad body, long neck, flared mouth and circular foot. Openwork chi-dragon handles sit symmetrically at the neck. The surface is built up in carefully planned bands: a yellow sgraffito ground with floral scrolls and dragon roundels on the neck, a red shoulder enlivened with gilt dragons, and a gold-ground medallion on the body. The Hundred Horses scene is painted in layered famille-rose colors, with gilt accents and raised details adding depth. The complex decoration requires multiple stages of painting and repeated kiln firings.
The Hundred Horses Motif
The central scene recalls the Qing court tradition of depicting a hundred horses, associated with the court painter Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining). Horses gather beneath pines and move through a landscape of rocks and distant hills; each animal has a distinct pose and coat. In Chinese symbolism, horses suggest achievement and a far-reaching future, while a gathering of fine horses evokes flourishing talent and prosperity. The dragons, floral scrolls and auspicious borders reinforce the pair’s celebratory, imperial-inspired character.
A Pair for a Grand Interior
Displayed together, these tall famille-rose porcelain vases create a balanced focal point for a formal interior. Their scale, gilded decoration and detailed horse paintings bring the visual richness of Jingdezhen decorative porcelain into a contemporary collection. This description reflects the supplied product information; the Qianlong mark is an imitation and does not authenticate the vases as antiques.
