Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Chinese Iron Rust Brush Washer to the 18th Century.
QING DYNASTY, 18th CENTURY
Provenance: The G. S. May Esquire Private Collection, London (No. 351);
Formerly in the collection of Imperial Oriental Art, New York (Item No. 10141).
Robustly fashioned in the classic compressed globular, incurved "alms-bowl" silhouette (buxi), the washer possesses an imposing physical presence on the screen and in the hand. Measuring an impressive 21cm in diameter and 9.3 cm in height, it stands as a rare, large-scale survivor; the vast majority of extant Qing Dynasty iron rust wares were confined to much smaller, vertical cabinet forms.
Glaze & Firing Mastery
The exterior and interior are enveloped in a flawless, masterfully executed iron rust (Tieshiu) glaze. The iron-oxide saturation is perfectly balanced, showcasing a dense, uniform mottling of metallic, tea-dust-like ochre crystals suspended over a deep, lustrous, plum-brown ground. The glaze exhibits an attractive fluid gradient, thinning slightly along the upper shoulder to highlight the crispness of the form, while pooling cleanly just above the unglazed foot ring. The raw paste of the foot ring reveals a fine, highly compact, white porcelain body characteristic of the high-tier production at Jingdezhen. Where the glaze meets the raw paste, a natural, characteristic orange-brown firing line has formed during the slow cooling cycle of the kiln.
Optical Dynamics
True to the finest 18th-century monochrome chemistry, the surface possesses highly responsive optical qualities. Under standard light, it retains a quiet, deep, meditative quality. When exposed to direct or intense illumination, the densely packed metallic iron crystals brilliantly scatter light, revealing a subtle yet magnificent purplish-blue iridescent overtone that dances across the shoulder of the bowl.
Pedigree & Provenance
The slightly recessed base is uniformly coated in a matching, richly mottled iron rust glaze and preserves an impeccable, multi-generational provenance trail via three intact historical marks:
A prominent, green circular collector's label reading: “The G. S. May Esquire Private Collection, London - 351”, anchoring its history in an elite 20th-century British collection.
A twentieth-century white circular gallery label for the renowned specialists Imperial Oriental Art, New York (Item No. 10141), documenting its position in the premier North American market.
An older, hand-inked, red-bordered paper inventory label bearing historical reference codes (494, 91455W) and a wholesale/cost notation (200), situated adjacent to a historic square label residue shadow, proving a long and cherished history through elite hands.
Condition: Pristine; excellent state of preservation, completely consistent with its exceptional provenance.
Diameter: 21 cm
Height: 9.3 cm
Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Chinese Iron Rust Brush Washer to the 18th Century.
Specialising in antique silver, gold boxes, gold coins and objects de vertu. Rare fine-quality imperial chinese porcelain, jades, cloisonné
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Sandbanks Antiques Profile Page
A Rare and Exceptionally Large Iron Rust-Glazed Compressed Brush Washer (Buxi) QING DYNASTY, 18th CENTURY
