Collectible Famille Verte Porcelain Tongping Vase 筒瓶 Marked ShendeTang Zao 慎德堂造

Antique Chinese Famille Verte Porcelain Vase
Chasing Cao Cao
Romance of Three Kingdoms Theme
Origin: China. Circa: early 1900s'
Seal marked: ShendeTang Zao (Made)
H 7.5 in. (19cm), W 4.5 in. (12cm), D 4.5 in. (12cm)
Condition: excellent!

This round cylindrical canister shaped vase with the short neck is known as Tongping vase 筒瓶. It is also termed as Xiangtuiping 象腿瓶 (means ‘elephant leg’ vase), which was one of the new vase shapes introduced during the Ming period  (1368 - 1644). 

A Famille Verte Tongping vase well preserved in mint condition, meticulously painted with vivid imagery from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, narrating the battle scene of a fully armored warrior on horse, rushing forth with his flagman and foot soldier chasing an escaping enemy, whose black hat indicated that the figure portrays Cao Cao, the antagonist minister of the Wei Kingdom. The representation is rendered in classic style, with soft color glaze and fine lines for the contours. The vase shoulder is painted with conjoined leafy tendrils around the neck, and a spray of flower petals encircling the vase near the base. The vase is scripted “Shende Tang Zao” Made by the Hall for the Cultivation of Virtue (慎德堂造) in four iron-red characters on the underside. It’s the mark of a well-known porcelain workshop favored by collectors since the Daoguang period. 道光 (1820-50)