Antique Chinese Porcelain Potiche Vase from the early 19th century

Antique Chinese porcelain Potiche vase in from the early 19th century, lid with figures, 19th century. QING (1694-1911)

Antique item. Unique collector’s piece.

Potiche is the French term that defines the typical porcelain vase with lid. Unmissable piece in the porcelain collections of the ancient Chinese tradition.

The Qing period (1694-1911), which coincided in the eighteenth century with a long period of peace in China, favored the development of the arts and in particular that of porcelain. The “Rooms of Porcelains” were already very fashionable among the European royalty and Chinese production adapted to the needs of Europeans since the seventeenth century and therefore, in addition to the large representative vases, there are cups and mugs, tea sets, saucers and bowls, jugs and even ornamental sculptures.

The shapes became more and more differentiated, from figurines to large garnitures, even if in Europe the greatest demand was reserved precisely for table services. In addition to flowers, dragons and clouds, the traditional themes of ancient China were represented on the pottery. Armorial decorations were ordered, with the coats of arms of the families, and the Companies of the Indies of the different countries provided drawings, prints and models of the objects to be made, different according to the destination.

Porcelain is vitrified ceramic, or clay mixed with certain minerals, so that when exposed to fire, it melts to become a translucent, but not transparent substance, which resembles glass.