Jihong-Glazed Bell-Shaped Zun Vase with Gilded Decoration

This colour was made for the gods. Jihong, "sacrificial red," was first created for vessels used in imperial rituals at the Altar of the Sun, and it remained one of the hardest glazes a Chinese potter could fire.

The red comes from a trace of copper. Fire it with too much oxygen and it turns green; too hot and it runs or turns grey. Only a carefully starved, reducing kiln gives this deep, even crimson, and many pieces were lost in the attempt.

This bell-shaped zun (yaoling zun) is 40 cm tall, with a long slender neck finished in a gilt band at the lip. The white base carries a six-character Da Qing Kangxi Nian Zhi mark in regular script, with a gilt edge around the foot.

This vessel is a Yaoling Zun (Bell-Shaped Long-Neck Vase), named for its resemblance to an ancient hand-held bronze bell. Its form features a slender, elongated neck, a slightly constricted mouth, a rounded and gently swelling body, and a flared foot ring. The harmonious transitions between these elements create a graceful and elegant silhouette. First developed during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, this vessel type became highly popular in the imperial court throughout the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong periods. Due to the technical challenges involved in its production and the low success rate achieved in firing, it was regarded as a highly prized decorative object.

The red glaze belongs to one of the most prestigious monochrome glaze traditions in Chinese ceramics. Colored with copper oxide, its successful firing required extremely precise control of temperature and kiln atmosphere. The glaze had to be fired in a reducing atmosphere, and even slight variations in firing conditions could result in unsatisfactory coloration. High-fired copper-red glazes were first perfected during the Yongle and Xuande reigns of the Ming Dynasty and were originally reserved for imperial ritual vessels. They rank among the finest red glazes produced by the official kilns. The glaze recipe incorporated plant ash to control glaze flow during firing, creating a distinctive warm, lustrous surface. Red-glazed porcelains were frequently displayed in the imperial palace, where they symbolized nobility, prosperity, and auspiciousness.

The base bears the six-character reign mark “Made during the Kangxi Reign of the Great Qing Dynasty” (Da Qing Kangxi Nian Zhi), written in the standard kaishu (regular script) format associated with official imperial kilns. The mark is inscribed in underglaze blue on a white-glazed base. The outer edge of the foot ring is fully highlighted with a gilt border, adding a refined decorative finish.

The characters are neatly and evenly executed, with only subtle variations in brushstroke thickness. The cobalt-blue inscription displays a deep, uniform tone, lacking the pronounced tonal gradations and diffusion effects commonly seen in Qing-dynasty underglaze blue decoration. Its restrained coloration and straightforward execution impart a sense of antiquity, simplicity, and understated elegance.