Featured Help with Blue Jar/Vase

I have two new(to me only )items I would like to post. Hopefully I can get some info to help list them. The first one posted here is the easier I think of the two IMO. Age? Style? use? etc? Curious, is this Chinese, lettering seems different?

6.5”H

thanking in advance for your time.

 

Wait for others, but the mark does look Chinese to me -- maybe an archaic script or maybe just the brush and glaze used. It might be a folk or utilitarian piece as way the glaze is applied reminds me of the ginger jars and pottery wine bottles -- "kitchen ming?". Although generally those items aren't marked.

 

Maybe Korean? The scalloped neck suggests a vase, rather than a jar imo. Nice chunky vase, beautiful colour.

The only monochrome Kitchen Ming ceramics I know are celadon coloured. Of course I don't know all of them.

 

Yes, more a vase than a jar. I was referring to jars like this which have impressed decoration and the glaze has a similar irregular edge near the base where it has pooled. The chunkiness of the blue vase is also similar. But the scalloped edge of the interior top is something I've not seen before. It looks like it was done with some sort of tool. Would be interesting to know where it was made. Google lens was no help.

 

Thanking you both for your insight *thumbs up*. If Korean, would that explain the ridged look of the logograph? It seems different to me. Anyone read Korean?

I do lean more to a vase with the scalloped top rim. Notice those go all the way down to the bottom foot.

 

For what it's worth, Google translates the mark on the bottom of your pot as traditional Chinese, the word "shou", which among other things, means "life" in English.

 

to me it looks like a ming melon shaped jar. google it under ming melon shaped jar

 

So possibly original Mon shou ware then? Only thing is, Mon shou items are generally decorated in brightly coloured enamel. Also they tend to be items you eat and drink from. Never seen a longevity vase before. Still it could just be a longevity sentiment for the owner.

https://www.chopsueyclub.com/blogs/blog/the-history-of-the-longevity-pattern

 

Wow, thank you. Never heard that term used before, even though it now appears to seems obvious. *thumbs up*

Thank you very much…A word I have seen very often but never in its purest form. Most often like—->

…and of course there is “https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5750300”

it looked strange before but I won’t forget it now, thank you again.

Another term I was unfamiliar with. Thank you too…

I really love the way this wonderful group on antiquers, dissects the arts piece by pieces to unveil the unknowns.

 

i second that totally. TOP forum

 

That was my first split second thought too, but I have never seen Ming melon shaped jars where the scalloping continues on the rim. There was a reason for that, jars were originally closed with stoppers, which works best with a smooth round top of the jar.
Of course this could be that one rare Ming jar with a scalloped rim.

Some Ming (style?) melon shaped jars:


https://www.rubylane.com/item/2244005-003436/Antique-Ming-Dynasty-Chinese-Celadon-Glaze

 

Maybe that third rare Ming jar with scalloped rim.
https://www.theodorebruceauctions.c...e-underglazed-red-melon-shaped-jar_08341C89A7

https://www.bonhams.com/auction/26035/lot/145/a-blue-and-white-gourd-shaped-jar-late-ming-dynasty/

it’s all melancholy to me.

 

Yours is still the first, those rims aren't scalloped on the inside of the rim, whereas your is.
You have a unique piece!

 

Just a passing thought, wasn’t cobalt blue rather expensive way back when. Why use so much with no artistic design? Just asking as I rarely see a deep dark blue vase like this, all be it small.

 

Thank you. I also have a very unique lady online, that has thought me(and others) so much while always delivering the same with such great humor. (((hug)))

 

China had to import cobalt, and I remember there were issues during some periods because of wars etc.

I have to delve deep into my memory, but I think they imported it from Afghanistan, which was Persian at the time. But there were times that China had to import it from Borneo, which is one of the reasons they tried to invade parts of Indonesia. The Indonesian rulers were not amused, and showed it.

 

So, I've learned something, too, as I hadn't heard of Ming melon shaped jar (my knowledge of Chinese stuff is very sketchy at best), but I would think it fits the bill! It may not have had a pottery or cork lid with that scalloped interior edge, but could have had a cloth or paper over the top and tied with raffia around the rim.