Chinese Blue and White Porcelain 'Peacock' Vase with Reticulated Openwork

Name: Chinese Blue and White Porcelain 'Peacock' Vase with Reticulated Openwork
Brand: ggft675
Availability: LimitedAvailability

Large blue and white porcelain vase with peacock relief panel, elephant handles, and reticulated openwork details. - view 1

1/3

Estimated value

$250 - $650

Rarity

Average(4/10)

CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN 'PEACOCK' VASE WITH RETICULATED OPENWORK: IDENTIFICATION

Large baluster-form porcelain vase featuring elephant-head handles and a distinctive reticulated (openwork) central panel. The decorative program utilizes underglaze cobalt blue painting combined with high-relief molded elements finished in underglaze copper-red (fading to brownish tones). The central scene depicts a peacock among blossoming branches, while the neck and base are decorated with traditional lotus scrolls, plantain leaves, and phoenix motifs. The vessel construction shows a multi-part assembly characteristic of large-scale 20th-century decorative production.

Compare with other ceramic pieces in the archive: Alabaster Urn-Shaped Vase, Han Dynasty Style Glazed Ceramic Boar Figurine, Chinese Blue and White 'Three Friends of Winter' Stem Cup, Ming Style.

PRODUCTION & FIRING

The form and decorative vocabulary of this vase are inspired by the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) blue and white traditions, specifically the David Vases and early Ming prototypes. However, the use of labor-intensive reticulated 'linglong' panels (pierced openwork) gained significant popularity during the Qianlong period (1736–1795) and was widely revived in Jingdezhen during the late 20th century for the export and decorative markets. This specific execution reflects a modern interpretation of the 'Baoyueping' or 'Tianqiuping' hybrid influence, aimed at the high-end decorative market of the 1980s or later.

SCARCITY

Average55-70%

CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Rarity 4/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 101 ceramics items at rarity 4 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

Standard antique shop items
Regularly available
Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

The unglazed interior and footrim display modern mechanical smoothing rather than period-accurate hand-finishing
Underglaze copper-red color consistency is typical of modern gas-fired kilns attempting to replicate wood-fire aesthetics
Stylistic 'mashing' of Yuan, Ming, and Qing elements is a hallmark of late 20th-century decorative pieces

Expert review recommended. Consider consulting a specialist before making purchasing decisions.

How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Ceramics Historian & Kiln Specialist

Ceramics Expert

Identification of the type and era is high due to visible manufacturing markers (interior throwing rills and copper-red behavior), though lack of a clear base mark prevents absolute factory attribution.

KEY EVIDENCE

1Reticulation (openwork) technique indicates a 'vase-within-a-vase' structure, a technically demanding process revived in the late 1900s.
2Elephant handles feature slip-cast characteristics rather than distinct hand-sculpted joinery.
3Footrim reveals a buff-colored, slightly gritty paste characteristic of modern-era Jingdezhen production.
4Copper-red transition to brown (liver-red) suggests a lack of oxygen control during the final firing stages.

UNCERTAINTIES

•The internal swirl patterns visible in image 10 are typical of modern jiggering or manual wheel-throwing without subsequent interior smoothing.
•The 'antiquing' on the footrim appears applied (staining/wash) rather than aged naturally through decades of shelf-wear.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

→Verify the presence or absence of a reign mark on the base (often unglazed in these types).
→Check for UV-light fluorescence on the relief elements to ensure no cold-painted repairs are hiding in the openwork.
→Perform a ring-test (tapping the rim) to check for a high-pitched resonance consistent with high-fired porcelain.

CONDITION & GRADE

Excellent/Fine

Grading breakdown

The reticulation is remarkably intact given the fragility of the openwork; no significant chips noted on the delicate petal edges or elephant trunks.

Condition

Surface appears intact with no visible structural cracks or missing reticulated elements. The unglazed footrim shows brownish firing grit and industrial smoothing marks consistent with 20th-century finishing.

Weight & feel

Substantial and heavy, likely weighing between 4kg and 6kg, suggesting a thick-walled porcelain body typical of modern decorative kiln production.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$250 - $650

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Interior designers looking for traditional focal points and collectors of late 20th-century Jingdezhen decorative porcelain.

What increases value

•Intactness of the reticulated panels
•Large scale (as indicated by the cup comparison)
•Complexity of the elephant handle molding

What lowers value

•Presence of hidden cracks in the lattice which significantly reduce value
•Browning of copper-red often perceived as a firing defect by perfectionist collectors

What makes top-tier examples

•Vibrant cherry-red instead of liver-brown in the copper areas
•Clear, translucent glaze without greyish tinting

Grade & condition

Completeness of the mesh, intensity of the cobalt blue, and absence of modern glaze 'cinders' (impurities).

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandModerate liquidity

Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

ggft675

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