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Authentic Ming Dynasty Chenghua Yellow Sacrificial Glaze Vase: Diagnostic Imaging, Glaze Analysis, and Provenance Documentation

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This scientific record presents the diagnostic analysis and visual documentation of an authentic monochrome vase with yellow sacrificial glaze (huang you 黃釀) attributed to the Ming dynasty, Chenghua reign period (1464–1487). The study includes colorimetric data, macro- and microscopic imagery, underglaze reign mark assessment, and material characteristics of the footrim and porcelain body. All findings correspond with established museum benchmarks from the Palace Museum (Beijing), Guimet Museum (Paris), and National Palace Museum (Taipei). Object Passport Object Name: Monochrome vase with yellow sacrificial glaze Period: Ming Dynasty, Chenghua reign (1464–1487) Material: Jingdezhen porcelain, translucent body (touguang tai 透光胎), sacrificial yellow glaze Glaze Type: Huang you (黃釀) — imperial ritual glaze for altar use Decoration: Light incised dragon & cloud motif under glaze Mark: Underglaze cobalt blue six-character reign mark: 大明成化年製 Glaze Colorimetric Data (CIELab System) L* = 82.6 a* = –1.85 b* = +51.17 C* = 51.2 h° = 92.1° Interpretation: These values confirm a bright, clean yellow hue with high chroma and minimal a* deviation, which corresponds precisely to the sacrificial yellow glaze standards for Chenghua altar vessels. Microscopic and Diagnostic Features Glaze Surface: Clear craquelure (natural aging) Bubble inclusions (firing characteristics) Subtle iridescence (optical sign of long-term glaze weathering) Transition Zone: Clear boundary between glaze and porcelain body No visible overpainting or restoration traces Porcelain Body: Dense, fine-grained, translucent porcelain typical of imperial Jingdezhen production Footrim & Base: Wide ash band (hui bian 灰邊) present Cobalt reign mark with visible pigment diffusion under glaze Support mark traces consistent with wood-fired kiln stacking Underglaze Reign Mark Analysis: “大明成化年製” written in classic six-character form Deep blue pigment with characteristic diffusion and microgranularity Absence of surface retouching Provenance and Publication This vase has been published with photo documentation in: "What You Should Know About Antique Chinese Porcelain", by Prof. Nona Dronova, Moscow, 2016, p. 131 Confirmed as museum-grade specimen with photographic and analytical archive Comparative References Color match confirmed with Palace Museum yellow sacrificial glaze vessels Form and decoration analogous to pieces in Guimet Museum (Paris) and NPM Taipei Material and technique align with published scientific data in Archaeometry (2021) and Asia Society technical reports Image Index (Included in Submission) Full vase view – Monochrome yellow glaze with incised dragon motif Underglaze cobalt mark (macro view) – Six-character reign mark with double circle Microscopic view of cobalt diffusion – Pigment granularity under glaze Microscopic transition – Porcelain-to-glaze bonding interface Glaze bubble structure – Clustered air inclusions Footrim ash band – Grey firing trace (hui bian) confirming wood-kiln firing License and Use This record is published in the open international scientific archive for unrestricted academic, museum, and expert board use. Reproduction with citation is encouraged. Keywords: Chenghua yellow glaze, Ming dynasty sacrificial porcelain, imperial ware diagnostics, CIELab glaze measurement, 大明成化年製, huang you, 黃釀, ash band 灰邊, authentic Chinese ceramics, Jingdezhen imperial kiln
Author: Dronova, Nona
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6912374573
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