Accession Number
UA2002.17

Title
Blue-and-white charger, Kangxi reign (pair with UA2002.16)

Artist(s)
Chinese

Artist Nationality
Chinese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1662-1722

Medium & Support
porcelain with blue underglaze painting

Dimensions
1 13/16 in. x 14 3/16 in. ( 4.6 cm x 36 cm )

Credit Line
Gift of the William T. and Dora G. Hunter Collection

Subject matter
Kangxi, the second emperor of the Manchurian Qing dynasty, took the throne at the age of eight and ruled for a total of sixty-one years, the longest of any Chinese emperor. Being a foreign ruler in China, he sinicized by learning Chinese, becoming Buddhist, and studied the Classics to to gain public support.  He accomplished many great feasts such as completing the unification of China, improved government administration, decreased corruption, and of most importance to the production of porcelain, he reinstated the official kilns at Jingdezhen and opened the overseas trade.  During Kangxi’s reign (1662-1722) there were many advancements to porcelain manufacture and the introduction of many new types and forms. Kangxi achieved this by appointing two different kiln supervisors during his tenure, Zang Yingxuan and Lang Tingji who are the names behind Zang yao (ware) and Lang  yao (ware), respectively. Other types discovered and produced during this time include but are not limited to various refined monochromatic and copper red glazes (including Lang yao (or sang de boeuf) and peach-bloom), underglaze blue in five colors, famille verte, bisquit, fencai (powder colors), and falangcai (enameled colors).  Porcelains produced under the Kangxi reign appealed both to the elites of Chinese society as well as those overseas. 

Physical Description
A blue and white charger that has two circular registers of reserve panels. The reserves have images of flowers within them. In the very center of the charger is a group of flowers.

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
charger

Additional Object Classification(s)
Decorative Arts

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
chargers (platters)
porcelain (visual works)