Black-Ground Famille-Verte Vase with Plum Blossom and Birds

Apocryphal Chenghua Mark

Period: 19th Century, Qing Dynasty
Origin: Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, China
Material: Porcelain with famille-verte enamels on black ground

Dimensions

Height: 10.5 in (26.7 cm)
Maximum Width: 5.5 in (14 cm)

Description

This porcelain vase is decorated in famille-verte enamels against a striking black ground, featuring a continuous composition of flowering plum branches with birds perched among the blossoms.

The vessel is of baluster form with a gently rounded body rising to a tall flaring neck. The dark ground provides strong contrast to the delicately rendered blossoms, which are painted in white enamel with pale yellow centers. The branches are executed in brown tones with finely incised linear detailing, while leaves and surrounding foliage are highlighted in shades of green.

Several birds are depicted resting on the branches, their feathers rendered with subtle tonal variation and precise brushwork. The design flows naturally across the surface of the vase, creating a lively decorative scene that integrates floral and avian imagery.

The overall composition demonstrates the decorative aesthetic characteristic of Qing dynasty enamelled porcelain, where vivid color and rhythmic patterning are combined with traditional pictorial themes.

Base Mark

The base bears a six-character underglaze blue mark within a double circle reading:

大明成化年制
(Da Ming Chenghua Nian Zhi)
“Made during the Chenghua period of the Great Ming Dynasty.”

This mark should be understood as an apocryphal or honorific mark, a common practice in later porcelain production referencing the celebrated wares of the Chenghua period rather than indicating the actual date of manufacture.

Provenance

From an extensive collection of Asian porcelain,
Manhattan Estate, New York

Condition

Reported to be in good condition with no chips, cracks, repairs, or breaks, and examined under UV light. Minor wear consistent with age and handling may be present.