VERY GOOD 19TH C. 10-INCH NONYA VASE BY CHENG YITAI

Home > Worthopedia – Price Guide > Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art >

Terms and Conditions for using our site

VERY GOOD 19TH C. 10-INCH NONYA VASE BY CHENG YITAI

Sold For:

or Sign In to see What it's worth.

Sold Date: 06/17/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

This beautiful example of a late 19th century export vase for Straits and other Overseas Chinese markets in Southeast Asia was acquired in that region nearly 30 years ago and has been well cared for in the same collection since. The Phoenix Amidst Peony motif on boldly toned grounds of rose and turquoise is emblematic of the Straits or Peranakan Chinese esthetic. This taste has evolved from cross-cultural roots put down in Ming times, when Chinese traders emigrated southward, drawn by coastal commerce to what is now Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, w they established businesses and families with brides called "Nonya" in local vernacular. On the bottom of this vase is a rubbed four-character mark of the well-documented "Ch'en I-t'ai" (Cheng Yitai) Factory, which was active in China from late Qing to early Republic times. The reserve price shan't be revealed, but might be a pleasant surprise for those accustomed to window-shopping at Orchard Road galleries in Singapore.

CONDITION. The vase is free of cracks, chips or restoration. In addition to more modest signs of use, gilt that once adorned the upper rim largely has been rubbed away. Exterior surfaces also display the light sprinkling of minor glazing and firing anomalies innt to handmade porcelains from traditional kilns. In the latter category, a few spots w the turquoise glaze puddled or was applied thickly became frothy when fired, with a few larger bubble bursts developing above the applied dragons on the shoulder. Enlarged for review in the photos as well is a tiny two-millimeter instance of production fritting in glaze beneath a flower petal. A narrow three-millimeter deposit of carbonized glaze at the mouth and an innocuous wrinkle in the foot rim biscuit also are illustrated for accuracy. Please reconcile any concerns about this description and the photos before bidding, thanks.

SIZE: Ten inches high.