UPDATE: A following blog post comparing this vase with another piece in the lotus pond theme that seems to have been made for U.S. export:
http://www.beadiste.com/2015/07/puzzling-evidence-chinese-cloisonne.html
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Puzzling Evidence - Rare Lotus Pond Vase by Lao Tian Li 老天利 and "Made In China" Stamp
We know the Lao Tian Li studio continued into the early 1920s, because Jin Shiquan 金世权 at age 12 was apprenticed there in 1922 under senior craftsman Liu Guangde. Was Lao Tian Li himself still alive then and overseeing the studio? This interesting vase has a rare combination of stamps on its base - the signature stamp of Lao Tian Li, plus a "MADE IN CHINA" stamp. A country of origin stamp including the words "Made In" was required to be on products exported to the United States after a 1920 tariff act - previous to that, only the name of the manufacturing country was required. The stamp is a stylized version of Lao Tian Li's engraved signature that appears on earlier pieces.
UPDATE: A following blog post comparing this vase with another piece in the lotus pond theme that seems to have been made for U.S. export:
http://www.beadiste.com/2015/07/puzzling-evidence-chinese-cloisonne.html
UPDATE: A following blog post comparing this vase with another piece in the lotus pond theme that seems to have been made for U.S. export:
http://www.beadiste.com/2015/07/puzzling-evidence-chinese-cloisonne.html
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Hello. Very beautiful vase and interesting wooden stand, apparently native. If not seeing signature, what are the traits and characteristics can determine what this work Lao Tian Li ?
ReplyDeleteHere's a new post about just this sort of problem:
Deletehttp://www.beadiste.com/2015/07/puzzlng-evidence-characteristics-of.html
As to "traits and characteristics," I'm curious about that myself. The lotus pond theme does seem to be a standard Chinese cloisonne theme during the 1890s-1930s. You can see an example in this 1933 catalog ad:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.beadiste.com/2014/01/puzzling-evidence-chinese-cloisonne-in.html
Was this a work by the old master, or a product of his studio artisans carrying on the tradition? Older pieces by Lao Tian Li seem to feature his signature engraved in an unobtrusive spot somewhere, and not surrounded by a frame. Does the framed signature function as a studio trademark used on products for export, and not works personally made by the master himself?
Questions like these are why I'm titling this series of posts "Puzzling Evidence."
I wanted to say without seeing the signature on the vase, ornament can say that this vase Lao Tian Li. Your vase is very beautiful, thanks for showing.
ReplyDeleteThe vase is not mine - it was sold for what seems to me to be comparatively little in a recent eBay auction. I was surprised to discover that it had a Lao Tian Li signature, as the workmanship, while nice, has some odd features, such as the egret positioned straddling the lotus blossom stem.
ReplyDeleteThere used to be a nice website idcloisonne.com that had essays about Chinese and Japanese cloisonne. It no longer exists, but a cached version of the essay about Lao Tian Li can be read here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20111117063936/http://idcloisonne.com/id39.html
ReplyDeleteHello. Work Lao Tian Li is very sought after, but very rarely have I seen the original wooden stand this wizard, the search engine did not produce results. On presents you a vase with a Lotus she is very beautiful, I have not seen, which makes this piece even more valuable. If you are in the archive there is a photo of a vase Lao Tian Li in native wooden stand, it would be interesting to see.
Yes, the wood stand with this vase is beautiful, and does seem to fit so well as to be original to the vase. The lotus pattern on the vase definitely seems to be far less common that the usual peonies, chrysanthemums, and dragons. It's a very graceful composition. I am, of course, kicking myself that I did not bid on this vase, and envy the person who had the good sense to buy it.
Delete