Blue and White Tea Jar

c. 1900

$1,480

Make an Offer

Dimensions

H: 10.5" Dia: 9.5"

Materials

Porcelain

Purchase Quantity

Collection #

PRA012A

Estimated Shipping

$75

Brushed with dark cobalt blue atop a creamy white field, this Qing-dynasty tea leaf jar beautifully exemplifies the timeless allure of blue-and-white porcelain. The tea jar has a gently tapered form with a wide base and high shoulders that flow into a constricted neck topped with a small round lid. The hand-painted decoration depicts an auspicious phoenix in flight, soaring through clouds painted as an abstract fish-roe pattern. The auspicious phoenix is an important symbol in Chinese culture, a powerful mythical creature embodying prosperity and benevolence.

Questions? Ask us

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.