What defines Chinese Ming dynasty glazed ceramics?

Ming dynasty glazed ceramics are defined by lead-glazed earthenware or stoneware bodies, featuring rich polychrome palettes such as turquoise, amber, and green. These pieces often showcase detailed relief moulding and structural forms influenced by ritual and functional vessels of the period.

What materials were used to craft early 17th-century Chinese vases?

Craftsmen used local clay to form the earthenware or stoneware bodies, which were then coated in low-fired lead glazes coloured with metal oxidescopper for turquoise hues and iron for warm amber tones.

How can authentic early 17th-century Chinese glazes be identified?

Authentic period glazes typically exhibit fine surface crazing, slight irregularities in glaze thickness, kiln marks, and natural age wear near the foot rim or base. The underlying ceramic body often reveals terracotta or stoneware texture consistent with historic firing techniques.

How can antique Chinese ceramic vases be styled in modern interiors?

A pair of decorative ceramic vases can be arranged symmetrically on a sideboard, fireplace mantel, or inside a curated bookcase to introduce historical texture and vibrant colour accents into contemporary or classic rooms.

How should low-fired glazed ceramic antiques be cleaned and maintained?

Dust ceramics regularly with a dry, soft-bristled brush. Avoid immersing low-fired glazed earthenware in water or using harsh chemical cleansers, as moisture and chemicals can penetrate glaze crazing and damage the underlying body.

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Pair Early 17th-century Chinese Turquoise & Amber Vases - Ming Dynasty

Name: Pair Early 17th-century Chinese Turquoise & Amber Vases - Ming Dynasty
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1234789
Price: 399 GBP
Availability: InStock

17th century

For Sale by Artsonline

Description

Pair Early 17th-Century Chinese Turquoise & Amber Vases - Ming Dynasty

Brief Description:

This is a rare and highly decorative pair of Chinese turquoise and amber-glazed pottery vases, attributed to the Ming Dynasty and dating to the early 17th century.

Each incredible vase is of distinctive archaistic form, with a baluster-shaped body, hexagonal lower section and neck, flanked by a pair of boldly modelled scrolling handles.

The surfaces are decorated in relief with scrolling and stylised motifs beneath a rich turquoise-green glaze, contrasted beautifully by amber-glazed cartouche-shaped panels to the principal faces.

Particularly appealing is the considerable variation and character within the glaze, with extensive age-related crazing, surface wear and areas where the underlying pottery body is exposed. The two are clearly conceived as a pair while retaining the individual characteristics one would expect from early hand-produced ceramics.

Both vases retain their fitted antique hardwood display stands, which complement them beautifully.

A wonderfully atmospheric pair of early Chinese ceramics with tremendous decorative presence and an attractive, naturally aged surface.

Attributes:

Chinese

Ming Dynasty

17th Century

Turquoise & amber glazed pottery

Archaistic form

Fitted hardwood stands

Condition:

The vases display considerable age-related wear commensurate with their early date, including glaze loss, crazing, rubbing, small chips and losses around the rims and extremities.

There are also areas of wear and minor losses around the bases. The fitted wooden stands have age-related wear and damage, with one stand showing a more noticeable loss/split to its surround.

Please study the photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition report.

Overall Measurements:

INCHES & CENTIMETRES

Height: 8.5'' | 21.5 cm

Width: 4.6'' | 211.6 cm

Depth: 3'' | 7.6 cm

^^ Fast & Free UK Delivery Included^^

*A Certificate Of Authenticity (COA) will be provided by artsonline with this piece*

Delivery

Artsonline UK ships worldwide daily, using only fully insured, priority, and fully tracked delivery services.

Great care and much time are taken over the safe transportation of the Fine Art and Antique pieces that we sell.

We pack extremely carefully, so you can rest assured that your piece will arrive with you in perfect condition.

For larger paintings, antique furniture pieces, and fragile items that can not be sent via the normal postal services, we use professional door-to-door delivery providers, who will always strive to deliver your piece promptly, within approx. 7-14 working days.

Returns Policy

Artsonline provides a genuine no-quibble 14-day money-back refund policy

(excluding the cost of Postage and Packaging).

Pay securely - Telephone orders welcome

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Physical Dimensions

Height

21.5cm (8.46")

Width

11.6cm (4.57")

Depth

7.6cm (2.99")

Declaration

Artsonline has dated these Ming Dynasty Glazed Vases to the 17th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1234789

Dealers Notes

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Tel: 01749 595 507

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PAYMENT:

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Description

Pair Early 17th-Century Chinese Turquoise & Amber Vases - Ming Dynasty

Brief Description:

“

This is a rare and highly decorative pair of Chinese turquoise and amber-glazed pottery vases, attributed to the Ming Dynasty and dating to the early 17th century.

Artsonline

fig 1. A pair of early seventeenth-century Chinese ceramic vases featuring turquoise glaze, amber reserves, relief scrollwork, and wooden bases. — fig 1. Pair Early 17th-century Chinese Turquoise & Amber Vases - Ming Dynasty

Each incredible vase is of distinctive archaistic form, with a baluster-shaped body, hexagonal lower section and neck, flanked by a pair of boldly modelled scrolling handles.

The surfaces are decorated in relief with scrolling and stylised motifs beneath a rich turquoise-green glaze, contrasted beautifully by amber-glazed cartouche-shaped panels to the principal faces.

fig 2. A pair of early seventeenth-century Chinese ceramic vases featuring turquoise glaze, amber reserves, relief scrollwork, and wooden bases. — fig 2. Pair Early 17th-century Chinese Turquoise & Amber Vases - Ming Dynasty

Particularly appealing is the considerable variation and character within the glaze, with extensive age-related crazing, surface wear and areas where the underlying pottery body is exposed. The two are clearly conceived as a pair while retaining the individual characteristics one would expect from early hand-produced ceramics.

fig 3. A pair of early seventeenth-century Chinese ceramic vases featuring turquoise glaze, amber reserves, relief scrollwork, and wooden bases. — fig 3. Pair Early 17th-century Chinese Turquoise & Amber Vases - Ming Dynasty

Both vases retain their fitted antique hardwood display stands, which complement them beautifully.

A wonderfully atmospheric pair of early Chinese ceramics with tremendous decorative presence and an attractive, naturally aged surface.

Attributes:

Chinese

Ming Dynasty

17th Century

Turquoise & amber glazed pottery

Archaistic form

Fitted hardwood stands

Condition:

The vases display considerable age-related wear commensurate with their early date, including glaze loss, crazing, rubbing, small chips and losses around the rims and extremities.

fig 5. A pair of early seventeenth-century Chinese ceramic vases featuring turquoise glaze, amber reserves, relief scrollwork, and wooden bases. — fig 5. Pair Early 17th-century Chinese Turquoise & Amber Vases - Ming Dynasty

There are also areas of wear and minor losses around the bases. The fitted wooden stands have age-related wear and damage, with one stand showing a more noticeable loss/split to its surround.

Please study the photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition report.

fig 6. A pair of early seventeenth-century Chinese ceramic vases featuring turquoise glaze, amber reserves, relief scrollwork, and wooden bases. — fig 6. Pair Early 17th-century Chinese Turquoise & Amber Vases - Ming Dynasty

Overall Measurements:

INCHES & CENTIMETRES

Height: 8.5'' | 21.5 cm

Width: 4.6'' | 211.6 cm

Depth: 3'' | 7.6 cm

^^ Fast & Free UK Delivery Included^^

A Certificate Of Authenticity (COA) will be provided by artsonline with this piece*

fig 7. A pair of early seventeenth-century Chinese ceramic vases featuring turquoise glaze, amber reserves, relief scrollwork, and wooden bases. — fig 7. Pair Early 17th-century Chinese Turquoise & Amber Vases - Ming Dynasty

Delivery

Artsonline UK ships worldwide daily, using only fully insured, priority, and fully tracked delivery services.

Great care and much time are taken over the safe transportation of the Fine Art and Antique pieces that we sell.

fig 8. A pair of early seventeenth-century Chinese ceramic vases featuring turquoise glaze, amber reserves, relief scrollwork, and wooden bases. — fig 8. Pair Early 17th-century Chinese Turquoise & Amber Vases - Ming Dynasty

We pack extremely carefully, so you can rest assured that your piece will arrive with you in perfect condition.

For larger paintings, antique furniture pieces, and fragile items that can not be sent via the normal postal services, we use professional door-to-door delivery providers, who will always strive to deliver your piece promptly, within approx. 7-14 working days.