Pear-shaped Ewer with Iron-red Glaze

To make an iron-red vessel, the craftsman first coated the biscuit with transparent glaze, fired it at high temperature, and then painted iron-red glaze over the transparent glaze, re-fired the vessel at low temperatures. It is for this reason that such vessels are also known as “painted red” (mo hong) wares. With an easier firing technique, iron-red glazed porcelain wares had once replaced the copper-red glazed porcelain wares. Barely visible in cobalt blue, the ewer is painted with the motif of cranes and clouds beneath the transparent glaze. A six-character Jiajing reign mark is inscribed on the base.