A rare pair of underglaze-blue mark and period of Xianfeng bowl written in the interior in fine underglaze blue color. Thickly potted with slightly everted rim,decorated on the exterior with finely drawn scene of a boat on the Yangzee river. A very lenghty poem encircles almost 3/4 of the outside. The poem is about a time spent on the Yangzee river on a summer day during the Great Qing Dynasty. The interior with a central medallion of four characters stating this was made in the Reign of Xianfeng and the interior sides showing six lotus flower heads or stylized insects surrounded by thousands of hand painted swirls. The condition is near perfect with one with a very short line probably from the making and the other with a larger line covering 1/3 of the bowl. Circa 1855 and of the Qing Dynasty,Xianfeng Period (1851-1861)one of the shortest periods in the Qing Dynasty and very difficult to find in the marketplace. A testament to the tumultous times of Xianfeng is the crude body that almost appears to be stoneware but is porcelain. Xianfeng was on the run and Beijing was taken by the British for much of his rule so porcelain production was interupted during much of his brief reign. Size:6 1/4''dia.x 3 1/2''high. An extraordinary pair of Chinese Imperial porcelains of the late Qing Dynasty. A must for the serious collector of Imperial Qing Porcelain. Status: For Sale Reference#: 475412 Condition: vg minor lines Year: 1855

Asian Antiques