Blue-and-white Porcelain Ginger Jar China, Late Kangxi Period – Early 18th Century

Blue-and-white porcelain ginger jar

China, late Kangxi period – early 18th century

An elegant blue-and-white porcelain ginger pot, made in China during the late Kangxi period, at the very beginning of the 18th century.

This beautiful porcelain piece features a cobalt-blue underglaze decoration, arranged around large, multi-lobed medallions depicting two karako (Chinese children) playing amid a stylized design of lotus flowers and foliage. These scenes, particularly popular during the Kangxi period, symbolize carefree living, prosperity, and descendants—recurring themes in imperial porcelain and pieces produced for export.

The medallions are surrounded by elegant motifs of lotus flowers and stylized clouds, while the neck is accented by a geometric frieze painted in underglaze blue. The finesse of the design, the quality of the cobalt blue, and the beautiful translucency of the porcelain attest to the remarkable craftsmanship of the Chinese workshops of this period.

The vase is accompanied by its original wooden lid as well as its turned wooden base, which is now attached (glued) to the bottom of the vase, likely to ensure greater stability and to cater to the tastes of 19th- and 20th-century European collectors. This historical adaptation is now part of the object’s history.

The base retains an old collector’s label, attesting to its historical provenance and reinforcing the historical significance of this piece.

Blue-and-white porcelain from the late Kangxi period ranks among the Chinese wares most sought after by connoisseurs of Asian art. It captivates viewers as much for the purity of its decoration as for the balance of its forms and the exceptional quality of its firing.

A beautiful collector’s piece of porcelain, as decorative as it is elegant, intended for connoisseurs of ancient Chinese ceramics.

China, late Kangxi period – early 18th century.

Dimensions:

• Total height (with base): 29 cm
• Diameter: 20 cm

Condition: in good overall condition. Some normal signs of age and use. Antique wooden lid. Antique wooden base glued to the bottom of the vase. An antique collector’s label is present on the base. The piece as a whole presents very well.