Blue-and-White 'Mandarin Ducks in a Lotus Pond' Pear-Shaped Ewer and Foliate-Rimmed Cup Set

One ewer, two cups, and a pair of mandarin ducks hidden among the lotus. This Yuan blue and white set was made for two.

In China, mandarin ducks always swim in pairs and are said to mate for life, so they became the symbol of a devoted couple. Here they glide through a lotus pond: tall lotus leaves, open blossoms and swaying water plants painted in deep cobalt around the pear-shaped body of the ewer. The lid is tied to the handle by a small chain so it can never be lost, and the two foliate-rimmed cups echo the same blue.

The Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) is where Chinese blue and white began. Potters at Jingdezhen first used imported cobalt to paint under the glaze, creating the look that would conquer the world for the next 700 years.

This Yuan-dynasty blue-and-white pear-shaped ewer is distinguished by its graceful silhouette and sophisticated decoration. The body is centred on a lotus-pond composition, with luxuriant lotus leaves and full seedpods arranged in harmonious rhythm, conveying traditional wishes for purity, integrity, and harmonious prosperity. The fitted lid is adorned with scrolling foliage, while the spout and handle are finely embellished with key-fret patterns and delicate dot accents. The layered composition is richly detailed yet remarkably well balanced, exemplifying the refined decorative sensibility of Yuan blue-and-white porcelain. Remarkably preserved through the centuries, the ewer survives in an exceptionally complete condition, making it a rare and distinguished example of Yuan-dynasty ceramic art.

The cups feature gently undulating foliate rims, bordered with delicate underglaze-blue scrolling foliage that harmonizes with the decoration of the ewer. The interior medallions are finely painted with mandarin ducks amidst a lotus pond, conveying auspicious wishes for marital harmony, happiness, and enduring affection. Remarkably preserved through the centuries, this exceptionally complete tea set retains a highly cohesive decorative scheme, making it a rare and distinguished surviving example of Yuan-dynasty blue-and-white porcelain.

The ewer retains the characteristic sandy foot ring of Yuan-dynasty porcelain, with an entirely unglazed base fired directly on a sand support. The underside displays an earthy yellowish-brown tone and an uneven, granular surface, revealing the coarse texture of the porcelain body. Traces of adhering firing sand and scattered dark kiln spots are visible, together with several small areas of glaze at the centre, formed when molten glaze dripped onto the underside during firing—an occurrence commonly encountered on Yuan-period wares.

The outer wall of the foot is cleanly trimmed, with natural wear along the foot edge. The centre of the base is slightly recessed and preserves irregular turning and scraping marks, characteristic of hand-finishing during the preparation of the porcelain body. Above the foot, the exterior is decorated with underglaze-blue scrolling foliage, executed with brushwork and cobalt tone fully consistent with the principal decoration on the ewer, reinforcing the unity of the overall design.