Ming Vases - Sellingantiques.co.uk

Ming Vases

19thC porcelain hand painted and gilt English mustache cup with charming verse.

19th century Victorian gilt and hand painted mustache cup with built in support for mustache and with quaint verse: "I wish you health, I wish you wealth, I wish you gold in store, I wish you heaven after death, what could I wish you more." The cup is meant to keep a man's waxed mustache out of his hot tea! A lovely cup in good condition with some wear to the gilt. Size 4.5 inches wide by 3.25 inches high. Very interesting and collectable. Also see listed silver mustache brush and comb, 4872.

Chinese Ming vase. C.1368-1644.

I think this is provincial Ming, and not Royal Ming, as per my research below. However, my vase is in perfect condition, no restoration, and 5 1/2ins high. It is a lovely example. It came from an old boy collector originally, but has been in my collection for years. Ming China, 1368-1644 The Ming Dynasty was founded by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk who became leader of a band of peasant rebels. Suffering greatly under Mongol rule, Zhu eventually came to reconquer most of China and claim himself the "Hongwu Emperor." Once again, China's governance was restored to the indigenous population. Under the Hongwu emperor, there was a revival of the examination system to ensure that Chinese scholarship was of the highest caliber, and that merit played a role in advancement. Members of the scholar-gentry were again appointed to the highest posts in the Imperial government. Throughout the Ming reign, arts and literature flourished. There was a great revival of traditional Han "Chinese" culture. At this point the Chinese were so proud of Ming culture that there was a general sense that foreign items or interests had no place in the Middle Kingdom. This sense of nationalism was so profound that, by the early 1430's, it was a factor causing the cessation of the famous Zhenghe seaborne expeditions, an effort to explore several other parts of the known world. Ironically, it was a combination of this sense of nationalism, a series of incompetent rulers and conflicts within the central government that again opened the doors to foreign seige. This time, the invaders were the Manchus. Thus was born China's last great Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty.

CHARMING PR. c.1900 GREEN IRIDESCENT ENAMELLED VASES

A pretty pair of baluster shaped vases, hand enamelled with white blooms, berries, beige stems and leaves. Depending on the light the vases display a good petrol iridescence. Condition: some lesser surface age and use wear; both undamaged - if you have any questions about this item, contact me. Seller operates a 100% purchase price money back returns policy if not completely satisfied. Circa 1900; unmarked. Just under 5in/12.7cm high.