A CHINESE LANGYAO BOTTLE VASE, CHANGJINGPING

KANGXI 1662-1722

The bulbous pear-shaped body supported on a short slightly tapering foot, surmounted by a tall slender cylindrical neck, the exterior decorated with a rich red crackled flambé glaze scattered with pale specks, the glaze draining from the rim leaving it white and pooling to a deep burgundy at the foot, with a pale mint green glaze to the base, 40.6cm.

The term langyao used to describe this type of glaze derives its name from Lang Tingji, who was the director of the official kilns at Jingdezhen from 1705 to 1712. It is believed that he was responsible for the revival of monochrome glazes and that the langyao glaze developed under his supervision.

Cf. J Ayers, The Baur Collection, Chinese Ceramics, vol.3, Monochrome-Glazed Porcelains of the Ch'ing Dynasty, pl.A277 for a related vase; see also Christie's New York, 22nd-23rd March 2018, lot 767 for another comparable vase.