Jingdezhen Hand-Painted Guiguzi Jar: A Yuan-Style Interpretation

This large, hand-thrown porcelain jar is a contemporary Jingdezhen interpretation of the celebrated Yuan-dynasty (1271–1368) Guiguzi jar. Designed as a substantial display vessel, it features a broad body, a short neck, and an unglazed base, recalling the characteristically broad proportions of 14th-century large-scale vessels.

The underglaze cobalt decoration is divided into four structural registers. The main narrative register depicts the military strategist Guiguzi descending a mountain in a cart drawn by a tiger and a leopard, followed by the envoy Su Dai on horseback. This central scene is framed by crashing waves at the neck, a scrolling peony band at the shoulder, and lotus-petal panels enclosing auspicious emblems at the base.

Historical Prototype

The historical vessel that inspired this contemporary interpretation is the mid-fourteenth-century Yuan blue-and-white jar known as “Guiguzi Descending the Mountain.” The original was sold at Christie’s London in 2005 for £15,688,000, including the buyer’s premium. Its narrative painting and four-register composition made it one of the most widely recognized examples of Yuan blue-and-white porcelain.

This auction reference relates solely to the historical prototype. The jar offered here is a contemporary work made in Jingdezhen and is not connected with the original vessel or its auction history.

To evoke the aesthetics of early blue-and-white porcelain, Jingdezhen artisans have purposefully employed archaizing techniques. The hand-painted cobalt features deliberate darker concentrations that evoke the historical "heaped-and-piled" effect. Furthermore, the interior glaze is applied unevenly, and the unglazed base displays reddish firing marks traditionally described as huoshihong. These details reflect a conscious contemporary effort to evoke the material characteristics of historical wares.

• Item: 1 large display jar
• Material: Jingdezhen porcelain
• Craftsmanship: Hand-thrown body, hand-painted underglaze cobalt, archaizing firing effects
• Dimensions: H: 27.5 cm / 10.8 in, Belly Dia: 33.0 cm / 13.0 in, Mouth Dia: 21.0 cm / 8.3 in, Base Dia: 20.0 cm / 7.9 in
• Care: Dust with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use abrasive cleaners.