Pair of vases; Qing Dynasty, China, second half... Lot 20

Pair of vases; Qing Dynasty, China, second half of the 19th century. Porcelain. Size: 60 x 29 cm (each). Pair of vases of great singularity made in glazed porcelain. Both pieces have an identical design as far as the structure is concerned, although they vary slightly in terms of ornamentation. Each of the vases has a hexagonal base with right-angled corners. Adorned with floral motifs on a blue background in each case, the base flows into a body also with walls that enhance the edges, widening towards the shoulders. Each of the walls corresponding to the sides of the hexagon is decorated independently, with a pastel-coloured field that varies in tone as a base and figurative elements depicting interior scenes featuring vases. The shoulder area has two fretwork-like bands that separate the structure, leading to the neck, which repeats the same type of ornamentation as the body and also has a handle on each side in relief. Under the Qing, inherited art forms flourished and innovations occurred at many levels and in many types. High levels of literacy, a successful publishing industry, thriving cities and a Confucian emphasis on cultivation nurtured a lively and creative set of cultural fields. By the end of the 19th century, the national artistic and cultural worlds had begun to reconcile with the cosmopolitan culture of the West and Japan. The decision to remain within the old forms or to welcome Western models was now a conscious choice rather than an unquestioning acceptance of tradition. Classically trained Confucian scholars. The Qing emperors were generally skilled in poetry and often skilled in painting, and offered their patronage to Confucian culture.