Suantouping" vase; China, Qing dynasty, c. 1900.

Vase "suantouping"; China, Qing dynasty, c. 1900.
Glazed porcelain. Pink family.
Measurements: 41.5 x 19 x 19 cm.
A Suantouping vase is a traditional Chinese porcelain vessel characterized by its "garlic head" design. In this case the piece features a wider base that narrows towards the neck, which in turn widens slightly at the mouth. The decoration falls within the Pink Family style, based on the introduction of new glazes, the most famous of which is pink, which will give the style its name.
Under the Qing, inherited art forms flourished and innovations occurred on many levels and in many types. High levels of literacy, a successful publishing industry, thriving cities, and Confucian emphasis on cultivation nurtured a lively and creative set of cultural fields. During this period, the European tendency to imitate Chinese artistic traditions, known as chinoiserie, also gained great popularity in Europe due to increased trade with China and the broader current of Orientalism.