A SUPERB AND RARE PAIR OF BLANC DE CHINE PORCELAIN PLUM TREES

Dehua, Fujian Province
Kangxi Period (1662–1722) Early 18th Century 

This exceptional and highly sculptural pair of Blanc de Chine porcelain plum trees ranks amongst the most ambitious and technically accomplished productions of the Dehua kilns. Each tree rises from a naturalistically modelled trunk, its gnarled roots spreading firmly across the base before dividing into a dense network of branches laden with tightly closed buds and delicately blossoming plum flowers. Nestled discreetly amongst the flowering branches are finely modelled birds, their presence bringing a sense of life and movement to the compositions while reinforcing the seasonal theme of spring's arrival.

The complexity of the modelling is immediately apparent.  Individually formed buds and blossoms are attached to the finely branching limbs, creating a remarkably airy yet robust structure. The birds are carefully integrated within the foliage rather than simply applied to the surface, demonstrating the sculptor's ability to balance naturalism with technical ingenuity. The challenges of producing such works cannot be overstated.

Every branch, flower, bud and bird had to be individually modelled and attached by hand before firing. Given the fragility of these projecting elements, the successful firing of a single tree would have required exceptional skill; the survival of a true pair in such condition is consequently of the greatest rarity.

The luminous ivory-white glaze, for which the Dehua kilns became celebrated throughout the seventeenth century, pools gently around the blossoms and branches, subtly accentuating the sculptural modelling while lending the surface a remarkable softness and warmth. This distinctive glaze, admired by both Chinese scholars and European collectors alike, earned Dehua porcelain the name Blanc de Chine in the West.

The plum blossom (mei) occupies a place of profound significance within Chinese art and culture. Flowering during the depths of winter, often while snow still covers the landscape, it symbolises resilience, perseverance and renewal. Together with the orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum, it forms one of the celebrated 'Four Gentlemen' (Si Junzi), plants admired for embodying the virtues of the ideal scholar. The blossom's five petals are also traditionally associated with the Five Blessings: longevity, prosperity, health, virtue and a peaceful life. The birds enlivening the branches further enrich this symbolism, evoking harmony, happiness and the renewal of nature that accompanies the first blossoms of spring.

Sculptural representations of flowering plum trees in Blanc de Chine porcelain are among the rarest achievements of the Dehua potters. Unlike the more commonly encountered figures of Guanyin or Buddhist deities, these highly intricate naturalistic compositions demanded an exceptional degree of technical mastery and were almost certainly intended for the most discerning patrons. They would have been displayed as treasured objects within the scholar's studio or exported to Europe, where they were admired as extraordinary demonstrations of Chinese porcelain artistry.

Combining  technical virtuosity with elegant naturalism and rich symbolisim this rare pair of trees represent one of the finest expressions of Dehua sculptural porcelain produced during the Kangxi period.