Qianlong-Style Famille Rose Meiping with Carmine-Red Graviata Ground

The meiping (plum vase) is recognized by its narrow mouth, broad shoulders, and sweeping silhouette that tapers toward the base. This Archive Edition faithfully reproduces a Qianlong-period imperial masterpiece—the original of which commanded over $5.3 million USD (41.5 million HKD) at Sotheby's Hong Kong in 2004.

The defining technical achievement of this vessel is the graviata (incised ground) technique applied to the carmine-red enamel. Before the final firing, artisans use a needle-like tool to hand-etch fine, continuous scrolling patterns directly into the opaque ground. Because the pattern is cut directly into the enamel, errors are difficult to correct once the work has begun.

Over the incised carmine-red ground, vibrant famille rose enamels are applied to depict scrolling lotus vines and idealized baoxianghua blossoms. The structural borders feature meticulously painted plantain leaves at the neck and upward-facing lotus petals at the foot. The rim is finished with precise gilt detailing, creating a narrow metallic line around the mouth.

• Form: Plum vase (meiping)
• Material: Jingdezhen Kaolin Clay (High-white porcelain)
• Craftsmanship: Traditional famille rose enamels over a needle-etched graviata carmine-red ground, with gilt detailing
• Motifs: Idealized floral scrolls, plantain leaves, and lotus petal borders
• Dimensions: H: 37 cm / 14.6 inch, Belly: 25 cm / 9.8 inch, Base: 14 cm / 5.5 inch, Mouth: 8.5 cm / 3.3 inch
• Heritage Note: Based on the Qianlong imperial prototype auctioned at Sotheby's Hong Kong (Autumn 2004).
• Care: Fine porcelain with a textured enamel ground. Hand wash only with room-temperature water and a soft microfiber cloth. Do not rub the etched surfaces. Avoid dishwashers, microwaves, and abrasive cleaners.