Father, son and grandchild – three generations with a common infactuation with Falangcai polychrome enamels. The son produced the best and most elegant among them, IMHO.
A Pair of Cups with Mynah in Falangcai Polychrome Enamels 琺瑯彩鴝鵒秋光圖杯一對
Porcelain | Emperor Yongzheng (r. 1723-1735), Qing dynasty (1644–1911) | Dimensions – H: 3cm, D: 4cm | National Palace Museum Collection 瓷｜清 雍正（公元1723年-1735年在位）｜高3公分 口徑4公分｜國立故宮博物院藏
Falangcai Polychrome Enamels 琺瑯彩 was successfully created in the 51st year of Kangxi (1712) during the Qing Dynasty, but it was greatly developed in Yongzheng reign and declined rapidly after Qianlong reign. While the largest production of Falangcai was during the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods, it was rarely produced after Qianlong.
Found in an identical pair in its own wooden box, the cup has constricted mouth, deep wall, short ringed feet, pure white material. A maple tree painted on the outside, and four mynahs on is branches. The prose, 「鵲鳴傳喜氣」(“The magpie’s song conveys happiness.”), was written on the opposite side with a red seal 「佳丽」(“beauty”), and the blue mark on the bottom of the cup “Made in Yongzheng Reign” in Song script. The second cup has the prose 「鴝語報秋光」(“The mynah’s song signals the arrival of autumn”). The overall artistic value is one of elegance and poise.
Since the poems complemented with paintings selected in the Yongzheng reign (r. 1723-1735) mainly sourced from the poetry collection compiled under imperial order of the Kangxi Emperor (r. 1662-1722), the porcelain in falangcai painted enamels produced in the Yongzheng reign could be fundamentally considered as within the same context extended from the Kangxi reign.
Tea Bowl with Red Leaf and Mynah Bird in Falangcai Painted Enamels (2 Pieces) 琺瑯彩紅葉八哥茶碗（二件）
Porcelain | Emperor Qianlong (r. 1736-1795), Qing dynasty (1644–1911) | Dimensions – H: 5.3cm, D: 10.1cm | National Palace Museum Collection 瓷｜清 乾隆（公元1736年-1795年在位）｜高5.3公分 口徑10.1公分｜國立故宮博物院藏
During Qianlong reign (r. 1736-1795), a new emperor was trying to innovate on the foundations built during his father and grandfather’s reigns. There were some pieces that incorporate techniques unseen in the Yongzheng reign, but generally the selection of poetry and quotes remain within the scope of the Kangxi’s poetry collection. Like this piece that has the same theme and poem (「鵲鳴傳喜氣，鴝語報秋光 。」) as the featured treasure.
Set of Twelve Monthly Flower Cups 青花十二月花卉圖題詩句杯
Porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue | Emperor Kangxi (r. 1662-1722), Qing dynasty | Imperial Kilns, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, The Palace Museum 瓷｜清 康熙（1662-1722年在位）｜江西景德鎮御窯，故宮博物院
Enamel porcelain has always been of great artistic value as court supplies in the Qing Dynasty. This set of cups was found in large quantities in the Forbidden City, and its quality is highly consistent. All of them are uniformly produced, the decoration is standardised, and the style is exquisite. It represents the highest level of artisanal porcelain production of Jingdezhen during Kangxi reign.
The Qing imperial court constructed temples 花神廟 dedicated to the twelve “flower spirits”, each representing a month of the year, at the Garden of Perfect Brightness 圓明園 and Chengde Mountain Resort 避暑山莊. Making offerings to the spirits at the Flower Festival in the second month was believed to ensure a good harvest.
Characterised by a thin body and glaze, each cup in this set represents a different month and is decorated with flowers-such as narcissus, peach blossoms, and peonies-accompanied by a poetic phrase. They may have been used as wine cups at rituals during the festival.
Currently on exhibition in Hong Kong Palace Museum 香港故宮文化博物館, these porcelain cups laid the foundation of the falangcai that was to follow. There are falangcai and qinghua varieties, and knock-offs made in the commercial films from Yongzheng to the Republic of China eras. Due to the differences in the climate between the north and south of China, the versions of flora depicted on the cups circulating among the commoners in various places are different. Most of the poems are Tang poems instead of the imperial poems.
About Chinese National Treasure Series
中華國寶系列 Chinese National Treasure series feature specific artefacts and relics from museums all around the world that are historically significant to be considered a National Treasure. The series covers the 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation from Neolithic periods before the Xia dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BC) to modern day.
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