Blue and White Hat Stand

c. 1850

$728

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Dimensions

H: 10.5" Dia: 5.0"

Materials

Porcelain

Purchase Quantity

Collection #

CGP003B

Estimated Shipping

$75

Accented with quatrefoil cutouts to provide airflow, this 19th-century porcelain hat stand was once used by a Qing-dynasty gentleman to display his cap while it wasn't being worn. The six-sided hat stand is painted with fanciful arrangements of stacked display stands laden with vases, censers, and treasured objects. Behind each vignette stands an ornate lamp hanger, strung with delicate lanterns and tassels. The lavishly decorated hat stand represents the opulence of Qing-dynasty court style, where rank and status was expressed through fashion and its accouterments.

This hat stand has a hairline crack along one side.

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Blue & White Porcelain

Soon after its development in the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368 AD), blue-and-white underglaze porcelain became a favorite of the imperial court. Its broad appeal rapidly extended beyond China’s borders, becoming a lucrative export commodity highly sought after in Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.

Using cobalt imported from Western Asia, ceramic artists ground the mineral into a vibrant blue pigment that was then painted directly on a porcelain base, coated with clear glaze, and fired. This underglaze technique brought with it a shift in focus from the overall shape of a vessel to the skill and artistry traceable in its painted decoration.

Transcending time and taste, blue-and-white porcelain continues to be appreciated around the world for the intricate brushwork and brilliant blue color.