Antique Pair Glazed Stoneware Vases, Shiwan, China (16901V-CEM) $825/Pair

Description

Made in Shiwan, a small town with many kilns near Foshan City in Guangdong Province, well crafted folk art ceramics renowned for their fine modeling, vivid expression and colorful glazes have been made there for centuries. Designed  in sections, these vases (16901V-CEM) are well-proportioned and have striking silhouettes. The bottoms rest on a square 4-legged pedestal base, have pointed-shield designs inset with angled linear images and gently slope upward to a bulbous shaped orb with floral designs of light vegetal sprays on its sides. Above this, a narrow area has 3 round smooth raised knobs set between thick horizontals above which an up-pointing elongated shield with an interesting decorative variation design similar to the lower one points up to a stylish, wide, everted square rim at the top. All areas have rounded soft corners making them elegant and graceful, and all designs are in relief against a smooth background. This intriguing design scheme is repeated on each of the four sides using patterns that mirror and complement the other pieces to comprise a unified 5 piece altar set, and the pair is very beautiful on its own. When a pair of vases are used as part of a 5-piece altar set (16901BLKE), all components are united by similar decorative and structural designs. A vase is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism, and any vase image is a symbol of peace and safety because the Chinese word for vase is a homophone for the word peace, as their pronunciations are extremely close. Since the vase is said to contain the elixir of life, it also symbolizes the fulfillment of all of one’s wishes.