Quianlong vase, 18th century. Porcelain with white... Lot 75

Quianlong vase, 18th century. Porcelain with white on white decoration. The base is chipped. Measurements: 45,5 x 21,5 cm. This Quianlong vase has a circular base and a trumpet-shaped body. It has been decorated using the white-on-white technique, combined with gilt floral motifs inscribed in polygonal pavilions. The Qianlong Emperor, a member of the Qing dynasty, ruled China from 1736 to 1795, and is remembered to this day as one of the most cultured emperors and one of the most important in terms of art collecting. His long reign was a particularly interesting moment in Chinese history. At that time, the country was the richest and most populous nation in the world. Qianlong was able to preserve and foster his own Manchu warrior and hunter traditions, and combine them with the adoption of Confucian principles of political and cultural leadership, thus achieving an effective and stable government. Indeed, it was his ability to adopt Chinese customs while honouring his Manchu tradition that made him one of the most successful emperors of the Qing dynasty. Qianlong studied Chinese painting, and especially enjoyed the art of calligraphy, highly regarded in this culture, indeed conceived as the highest of the arts.