Vase in the Shape of Double Gourds

This vase, made in the Qing dynasty during the reign of Qianlong, imitates Guan ware of the Song dynasty. While gourd-shaped vases in the Song dynasty follow the natural shape of a gourd, augmented gourd shapes appear in the Qing dynasty. Seen from the front, a bud-shaped upper body is mirrored by a larger lower body. The upper and lower parts are joined by a narrow waist and two "S' curved handles. In contrast to rounded gourds, the upper and lower bodies of the vase are rectangular. The most appealing characteristic of the vase is the color of its glaze. The icy sky-blue glaze is clear and uniform, resembling a piece of jade. Because of the distinguished status of jade in Chinese traditions, "like ice and jade" is the highest praise for a piece of porcelain. Wide crackles with a golden hint suffuse the body.