Famille-rose Vase with a Straight Neck and Peach Blossom Design

This vase has a straight mouth, a long neck, a swelling stomach, and a slightly flaring foot ring. It is covered with white glaze and polychrome famille rose painting of two kinds of flowering peach: one is red, the other is white. Their contrasting colored branches surround the vessel, twisting upwards from the foot to the neck. The rouge red blossoms gradually darken from the edge of the petals to the center. This design highlights the splendor of famille rose.
On Yongzheng imperial porcelains, generally a monochrome glaze as smooth and soft as jade is applied over a thin, light body, on which colored designs are painted. Some small-sized wares, such as plates and bowls, are exquisitely translucent: when held up to the light, one can clearly see the motifs on the other side. Yongzheng porcelain is decorated with flowers, birds, landscape and figures, among which flowers and birds are the finest. Artists used traditional painting technique as well as creating effects with light and shade. Various tonal levels contribute to a three-dimensional effect. With elegant shape and brilliant colors, this vase exemplifies the best of Yongzheng imperial porcelain.