Massive 23" (~ 58cm) Old Chinese Cloisonné Jar Featuring Jingtailan (景泰蓝) For Sale

Approximately 23 inches, or 58-60cm, if I'm doing that math right. Very large piece of Chinese cloisonné. It's a bit difficult to accurately measure something with this wide of a shoulder, so please consider this an inexact measurement. But it's right about there.

I will preface this by saying I'm not sure what era this piece comes from. It is at LEAST vintage, and I think the latest it could be is mid century.

I don't know if I got pictures of all of them, but besides the many flowers, the decorations consist of Chinese symbols for good luck, such as fish, and the Chinese knot. Ground is a nice, light blue.

I have applied no filters or special effects to these photos, and I have chosen the ones that most accurately depict its colors in real life.

Obviously your lighting and eyeball combination may offer differing results, as opposed to my lighting and camera combination, so please allow some room for variation in real life appearance. Again, I have tried to portray this piece as honestly as possible.

The enamels are less refined than the shiny, modern pieces, and they appear to have had fair difficulty with the open spaces of the background. It is of note how large the open pieces of ground are. You see in my closeup pictures there are several areas in the open ground portions that are discolored, or uneven.  I own many, many pieces of Cloisonné and all sorts of Asian art forms. I do not believe these spots are damage, or repairs, I believe they are flaws from the manufacturing process.

Open backgrounds are very uncommon in Chinese pieces. No clouds, swirls, or key background cloisons on this piece. Just open space. I believe this is uncommon because it is, or was, exceptionally difficult for most Chinese makers.

Since we're on flaws, let's discuss the finial. The finial (lid nubbin, if you will) has a seam of metal running around it, and there are several places where the enamel has chipped or flaked off around the upper portion of this seam. Please bear in mind this is like a ¼" area out of the 23" whole of the creature. It's an odd place for damage, so my thought would be that this area around the seam is weakly fused to the base material, and you should not lift the lid by this handle.

There are no cracks in the enamel, and the only chipping is around the finial. Some wiring may exhibit corrosion, tarnish, or just plain old patina.

The base, which is a separate piece from the walls of the vase, is oddly discolored, and shows hammer score marks all over the surface. I believe it is hand hammered brass. I've never seen the bottom of any cloisonné piece look like this.

Several places in the enamel show pitting, another sign of a piece with more age. This is not damage, but evidence of an older piece with imperfect technology being used. Modern pieces rarely show pits in the enamel.

Piece is oddly heavy. I own a 3 foot Japanese cloisonné vase, and it weighs about half as much as this piece. Just mentioning it, I don't know if it means anything at all, other than the metal or enamel are THICK. Most of the weight seems to be on the bottom, so likely an anti-tipping measure.

I have shipped all manner of things, all manner of places. I will take the utmost care and concern packaging and shipping this item.

I have attempted to point out every single flaw or fault with this piece, and I have attempted to be as picky as you have every right to be. Honest pictures, honest description, a fine and uncommon item. Purchase with confidence. 🙂

Feel free to message me any questions whatsoever. I have a few more pictures that didn't fit, happy to send you any and all.

Please note that if you are having this item shipped internationally, there may be fees associated with that, such as brokerage fees for the shipping service selected. I have no control over any of that, and you should thoroughly check your regions tax and duties rules for receiving items.