Sharing with you this amazing Chinese porcelain creamer from the Yongzheng / Qianlong period.

The pear-shaped creamer is delicately decorated in encre de Chine with a continuous Chinese riverscape. Two mounted travellers follow a winding path through a rocky landscape towards a walled settlement, while another figure stands in an open gateway. Traditional houses and a pagoda rise among steep rocks and trees, with distant mountains fading softly into the background. On the river, a small covered boat completes the tranquil scene. The detailed black linework and subtle grey washes give the decoration the refined appearance of an ink drawing or engraved print. The neck and cover are finished with matching diaper-pattern and floral borders.

About encre de Chine porcelain

Encre de Chine, also known as Chinese grisaille, describes porcelain decorated predominantly in black and subtle shades of grey over the glaze. By varying the density of the enamel, Chinese painters created fine outlines, shading and atmospheric depth resembling an ink drawing or European engraving. The technique became particularly fashionable during the Yongzheng and early Qianlong periods in the second quarter of the 18th century. Many examples were produced as Chine de commande—Chinese porcelain made for export and often shaped or decorated according to European taste.

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