Pair of vases; China, second half of the twentieth century.

Pair of vases; China, second half of the twentieth century.
Glazed porcelain "powder blue" style.
Measurements: 38 x 22 cm (x2).
The pieces show a blue finish known as "Powder blue", where oxide particles appear visible as specks of powder that give the color a mottled appearance. Porcelain glazed in monochrome blue is often found with traces of worn gold decoration. The glaze originated in the Ming dynasty, Xuande period (1425-35), and at that time the Chinese called it "sprinkled blue" (sa lan) and also "snowflake blue" (xue hua lan), of which only a few examples survive today. During the Kangxi Period a similar effect was sought in what came to be called powder blue. According to literary sources, cobalt blue "was blown onto the surface of unfired porcelain through a tube with a gauze on the end." Hence the name powder blue, also known as souffle blue glaze, and then covered with a transparent glaze.
Monochrome blue glazed porcelain has been made without interruption since the Ming dynasty and is usually a regular porcelain glaze to which various amounts of cobalt are added. The difference between powdered blue and other plain blue glazes is the size of the cobalt particles. In the case of "powder blue", the oxide particles appear visible as specks of dust that give the color a mottled appearance.