Chinese Imari Porcelain Chamfered Square Bowl, Kangxi Period, C.1700-1720

An elegant Chinese porcelain chamfered square bowl produced at the famous Jingdezhen kilns during the Kangxi Period of the Qing Dynasty, circa 1700-1720. Decorated in the classic Chinese Imari palette, it combines deep underglaze cobalt blue with vibrant overglaze iron-red enamels and finely applied gilt decoration, reflecting one of the most admired export porcelain styles of the early eighteenth century.

The centre is occupied by a distinctive pomegranate-shaped cartouche depicting a finely painted garden pavilion with iron-red walls and a cobalt-blue roof beside a scholar's rock from which flowering prunus branches emerge. These traditional Chinese motifs symbolise refinement, longevity and the ideals of the cultivated scholar's garden.

The surrounding interior is richly ornamented with chrysanthemums, lotuses and peonies. Thickly applied iron-red enamels create a pleasing raised texture, while carefully painted gilt highlights enrich the floral decoration and demonstrate the refined craftsmanship associated with Kangxi-period Jingdezhen porcelain.

A narrow underglaze cobalt-blue line frames the central well, while each chamfered corner is decorated with traditional ruyi-head motifs. The unmarked underside displays characteristic early eighteenth-century kiln features, including an unglazed foot with embedded kiln grit and natural firing specks, and still preserves old pencil inventory inscriptions from previous owners. More than three hundred years after it was made, the bowl remains a fine example of the artistic and technical achievements of Kangxi-period porcelain production and an attractive addition to any collection of early Chinese ceramics.

Dimensions:

• 14.9 × 14.6 cm

• Height: 3 cm

• Weight: 400 g

Condition:

Minor losses to the enamels and gilding around parts of the rim together with light age-related wear consistent with more than three centuries of careful use. Otherwise excellent antique condition. Examined under UV light with no evidence of restoration. No hairlines, chips or structural cracks detected.

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance. It is important to note that shipping costs include labour, packaging and postage.