This Qianlong-style Jingdezhen porcelain elephant-ear vase features nine high-relief dragons rising through waves and auspicious clouds. Famille-rose colors, green-glazed sea motifs and gilt accents create a richly layered surface, while the balanced elephant-trunk handles give the monumental form a sense of poise.
Materials and Dimensions
- Materials: fine kaolin porcelain, famille-rose enamels and gold gilding
- Dimensions: approximately 78 cm high; 33 cm mouth diameter; 30 cm base diameter
- Decoration: nine high-relief dragons, green-glazed waves, five-color clouds, gilt details and elephant-trunk handles
- Mark: Qianlong reign mark (imitation)
High-Relief Nine-Dragon Decoration
Raised dragon forms wind around the body in multiple tiers, detailed with iron-red, emerald-green and sapphire-blue enamels. Green-glazed waves and gold outlines shape the sea below, while five-color clouds move between the dragons. Matching elephant-trunk handles flank the neck; gilt accents and traditional cloud and key-fret borders finish the rim and foot.
Materials and Jingdezhen Craftsmanship
Made in Jingdezhen in a Qianlong imperial-kiln style, the vase is hand-thrown, modeled with layered relief, enamel-painted and gilded, then fired multiple times. Its flared mouth, restrained neck, full body and ring foot are complemented by symmetrical elephant-shaped handles. The deeply raised decoration requires careful sculpting and controlled firing.
Symbolism of Dragons, Waves and Elephant Handles
Nine dragons among waves and clouds evoke the auspicious theme “Nine Dragons Emerging from the Sea.” In Chinese symbolism, dragons are associated with rain, strength and good fortune; the number nine also carries imperial associations. The elephant handles suggest “peace and abundance” (太平有象), while the sea motif represents stability and lasting prosperity.
A Contemporary Jingdezhen Porcelain Art Vase
This imposing display vase brings together high-relief porcelain sculpture, famille-rose painting and gilding in a richly detailed contemporary work. It is inspired by Qing Qianlong imperial-kiln aesthetics; the Qianlong reign mark is an imitation and does not establish an antique date or imperial provenance. Its large scale makes it suited to a spacious interior, gallery or collection display.
