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ID #SA1190926
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£4,950
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An Exquisite Chinese Blue & White 'Five-clawed Dragon' Meiping Vase Guangxu Period C 1895
For sale by Sandbanks Antiques
for sale €5,792     $6,287
£4,950
Sandbanks Antiques

Sandbanks Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jan 2025
Browse dealers 205 items
  • About Us
    Specialising in antique silver, gold boxes, gold coins and objects de vertu. Rare fine-quality imperial chinese porcelain, jades, cloisonné
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An Exquisite Chinese Blue & White 'Five-clawed Dragon' Meiping Vase Guangxu Period C 1895

19th century
Description

Exquisite Chinese Blue & White 'Five-Clawed Dragon' Meiping Vase

An Exceptional Late Qing Dynasty Masterpiece (Guangxu Period, c. 1875-1908)

This stunning cobalt blue and white porcelain vase features a classic Meiping silhouette, elegantly tapering toward the base with a high, rounded shoulder and a short, waisted neck. The vessel is dominated by a bold, ferociously rendered Imperial Five-Clawed Dragon, a traditional symbol of power, strength, and good fortune.

Key Features:

Dynamic Artistry: The dragon is depicted with exceptional detail, featuring scrolling scales, flame-like appendages, and a powerful serpentine body that wraps around the vase.

Imperial Iconography: The presence of the five claws historically signifies a connection to the Imperial court.

Fine Glaze & Pigment: The rich, vibrant cobalt blue stands in beautiful contrast against the milky-white vitreous glaze.

Documented History: The base features a six-character apocryphal Kangxi mark, characteristic of the fine revivals seen during the Guangxu reign. Notably, the underside bears vintage hand-painted collection markings including "London" and an inventory number (EK 173), adding a layer of provenance and historical intrigue.

Specifications:

Height: 25.5 cm

Material: Fine Chinese Porcelain

Condition: Excellent antique condition, showcasing a smooth glaze and crisp underglaze blue decoration (see photos for detail).

Period: Late Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Period (1875–1908).

Collector's Note: This vase is a perfect example of the late 19th-century fascination with classical Ming and early Qing motifs. Its impressive size and the fierce movement of the dragon make it a standout decorative piece for any serious collector of Chinese ceramics.

Provenance: Private London, UK Collection since 1946

Physical Dimensions
Height
25.5cm (10.04")
Declaration

Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Chinese Dragon Meiping Vase to the 1890s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1190926
Description
Exquisite Chinese Blue & White 'Five-Clawed Dragon' Meiping Vase

An Exceptional Late Qing Dynasty Masterpiece (Guangxu Period, c. 1875-1908)

“
This stunning cobalt blue and white porcelain vase features a classic Meiping silhouette, elegantly tapering toward the base with a high, rounded shoulder and a short, waisted neck.
Sandbanks Antiques

The vessel is dominated by a bold, ferociously rendered Imperial Five-Clawed Dragon, a traditional symbol of power, strength, and good fortune.

fig 1. A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background.
fig 1. An Exquisite Chinese Blue & White 'Five-clawed Dragon' Meiping Vase Guangxu Period C 1895

Key Features:

Dynamic Artistry: The dragon is depicted with exceptional detail, featuring scrolling scales, flame-like appendages, and a powerful serpentine body that wraps around the vase.

Imperial Iconography: The presence of the five claws historically signifies a connection to the Imperial court.

fig 2. A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background.
fig 2. An Exquisite Chinese Blue & White 'Five-clawed Dragon' Meiping Vase Guangxu Period C 1895

Fine Glaze & Pigment: The rich, vibrant cobalt blue stands in beautiful contrast against the milky-white vitreous glaze.

Documented History: The base features a six-character apocryphal Kangxi mark, characteristic of the fine revivals seen during the Guangxu reign. Notably, the underside bears vintage hand-painted collection markings including "London" and an inventory number (EK 173), adding a layer of provenance and historical intrigue.

fig 3. A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background.
fig 3. An Exquisite Chinese Blue & White 'Five-clawed Dragon' Meiping Vase Guangxu Period C 1895

Specifications:

Height: 25.5 cm

Material: Fine Chinese Porcelain

Condition: Excellent antique condition, showcasing a smooth glaze and crisp underglaze blue decoration (see photos for detail).

Period: Late Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Period (1875–1908).

fig 4. A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background.
fig 4. An Exquisite Chinese Blue & White 'Five-clawed Dragon' Meiping Vase Guangxu Period C 1895

Collector's Note: This vase is a perfect example of the late 19th-century fascination with classical Ming and early Qing motifs. Its impressive size and the fierce movement of the dragon make it a standout decorative piece for any serious collector of Chinese ceramics.

Provenance: Private London, UK Collection since 1946

Height
25.5cm (10.04")
Date of Manufacture

Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Chinese Dragon Meiping Vase to the 1890s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1190926
Sandbanks Antiques
Sandbanks Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Jan 2025

Specialising in antique silver, gold boxes, gold coins and objects de vertu. Rare fine-quality imperial chinese porcelain, jades, cloisonné

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Sandbanks Antiques Profile Page

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A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background.
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Archive I A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background.

An Exquisite Chinese Blue & White 'Five-clawed Dragon' Meiping Vase Guangxu Period C 1895

Archive II A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background. View II
Archive III A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background. View III
Archive IV A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background. View IV
Archive V A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background. View V
Archive VI A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background. View VI
Archive VII A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background. View VII
Archive VIII A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background. View VIII
Archive IX A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background. View IX
Archive X A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background. View X
Archive XI A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background. View XI
Archive XII A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background. View XII
Enlarged Archival View
Sandbanks Antiques

Sandbanks Antiques
Telephone 07889 139677
Location
Sandbanks
Poole
Dorset
United Kingdom

By appointment only in Poole or London.
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/sandbanks
Verified Since Jan 2025
Items For Sale 205
Items Sold 86
Sandbanks Antiques
Sandbanks Antiques
Verified Since Jan 2025
View Dealer Info
Location: Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom, , By appointment only in Poole or London.
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/sandbanks
Verified
Jan 2025
For Sale
205
Sold
86
A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background.
An Exquisite Chinese Blue & White 'Five-Clawed Dragon' Meiping Vase Guangxu Period c 1895
Ref: SA1190926
A Chinese porcelain meiping vase decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon on a white background.
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectVases
  • Period19th century
  • StyleQing Dynasty
  • MaterialPorcelain, Cobalt Underglaze
  • ColourBlue and White
  • MotifsFive-clawed dragon, High rounded shoulders, Narrow mouth, Underglaze cobalt blue
  • SizeH 25.5 cm (10 in)

This Chinese porcelain meiping vase dates from the Qing Dynasty, specifically the Guangxu period around 1895. It stands 25.5 cm high with a narrow mouth, a short neck, high rounded shoulders, and a body tapering down to a flat base. The piece has a milky-white vitreous glaze decorated with an underglaze cobalt blue five-clawed dragon wrapping its serpentine body around the vessel, accompanied by scrolling scales and flame-like appendages. The base carries a six-character apocryphal Kangxi mark alongside hand-painted collection markings including an inventory number and 'London'. In a contemporary home, the vase suits placement on a sideboard top, bringing a traditional accent to a gentleman's library or a study shelf. The smooth surface finish and crisp blue-and-white colour palette highlight the historic motif. The solid porcelain construction provides a durable display item suitable for collector showcases and surface placement without requiring hanging hardware.

FAQs

The meiping, or plum vase, developed during the Song Dynasty and is characterised by a narrow neck, small opening, and high rounded shoulders. Originally designed to hold single branches of plum blossom, the silhouette became a staple form for displaying underglaze cobalt blue decorations throughout the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

These vases were created using refined kaolin clay shaped on a potters wheel before being hand-painted with cobalt oxide pigment on the unbaked body. A clear glaze was applied over the painted decoration prior to a single high-temperature firing in a kiln, producing the blue decoration beneath a smooth protective glaze.

Guangxu period ceramics often feature bright cobalt blue underglaze tones and smooth white porcelain bodies. Authentication involves examining base marks, glaze texture, wear patterns along the foot rim, and the specific brushwork stylistic details of the imperial dragon motifs.

A blue and white meiping vase serves as a focal point when placed on a dark wood sideboard, console table, or open bookshelf. Pairing the vessel with minimalist modern furniture or warm timber textures highlights the contrast between historical ceramic artistry and modern interior lines.

Dust the surface regularly with a soft, lint-free microfibre cloth or a gentle camel hair brush. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners and abrasive materials; if washing is necessary, use lukewarm water with a mild soap and dry thoroughly immediately afterwards.
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