Xuande-Style Blue-and-White Fish and Aquatic Plants Yuhuchun Vase

This yuhuchun vase features a flared mouth, a slender neck, and a full pear-shaped body tapering toward the foot, creating a classic teardrop silhouette. This contemporary Xuande-style edition draws on the visual balance and decorative program of early fifteenth-century imperial porcelain.

The painting relies on a cobalt formulation developed to reproduce the dark, mottled character associated with early Ming blue-and-white wares. As the pigment concentrates during the high-temperature firing, darker, iron-speckled areas develop. This tonal variation is associated with the “heaped and piled” effect, giving the decoration a mottled depth beneath the smooth, transparent glaze.

The central register displays four fish swimming among aquatic plants and lotus blossoms. Plantain leaves and scrolling peony motifs encircle the neck and shoulder, upright lotus petals surround the foot, and a key-fret band defines the flared mouth.

• Form: Yuhuchun (pear-shaped) vase
• Material: Jingdezhen Kaolin Clay (High-white porcelain)
• Craftsmanship: Underglaze blue-and-white with tonal variation inspired by the Xuande-period “heaped and piled” effect
• Motifs: Four fish, aquatic plants, lotus blossoms, plantain leaves, scrolling peony motifs, key-fret borders, and lotus petals
• Mark: Bears a reproduced six-character Xuande reign mark inside a double circle on the base
• Dimensions: H: 25.7 cm / 10.1 inch, Belly: 17.5 cm / 6.9 inch, Base: 10.2 cm / 4.0 inch, Mouth: 7.9 cm / 3.1 inch
• Heritage Note: A contemporary edition referencing the decorative composition of early Ming dynasty Xuande prototypes
• Care: Fine porcelain. Hand wash only with room-temperature water and a soft microfiber cloth. Avoid dishwashers, microwaves, and abrasive cleaners.