LARGE AND RARE QIANJIANG PORCELAIN VASE SIGNED BY REN HUANZHANG, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century

With an unusual squared shape rising from a trapezoidal foot, tapering body and flared neck, it is masterfully painted on each side with a different subject, typical of the Qianjiang style a landscape, a bird among leaves, a man in a garden and antique objects; on the side with the character in the top left-hand corner it bears an inscription with the signature of the artist Ren Huanzhang (任焕章). On HIS wooden base.

Provenance Private collection, Italy

Catalogue notes: Ren Huanzhang is a renowned artist of the late Qing dynasty and is considered a master of the Qianjiang style on porcelain. Registered at the Imperial Kilns during the reign of Emperor Guangxu, he was active from 1874 to 1902. He boasts a unique painting style and is good at a variety of themes, including landscapes, human figures, flowers and birds. 

His character paintings are characterised by carefully defined outlines of human figures through small brush strokes. His depictions of birds and flowers follow the style of Hua Yan, characterised by a lively and refreshing, but not reserved atmosphere. The landscapes, on the other hand, follow the style of the great Tang Yin and boast a wide range of scenes. He was also good at writing various scripts.

See The Illustrated Works in 'Qianjiang Ware in the Late Qing Period', editor in chief Xu Jinfan and Cheng Bing, Shanghai 2011, pp. 175-184, no. 53-62.