Purple Yaobian Glaze Trumpet Mouth Vase

This elegant Purple Yaobian Glaze Trumpet Mouth Vase is a faithful reproduction of a classic Chinese porcelain form, handcrafted in Jingdezhen – the historic heart of Chinese porcelain production. Finished in a spectacular purple flambé (yaobian) glaze, the vase displays an extraordinary blend of deep aubergine, crimson and cobalt blue, rising to a softly crackled ivory trumpet rim. These dramatic colour transitions are created naturally during firing, ensuring that every vase is completely unique.

Yaobian (窑变), meaning "kiln transmutation", refers to the extraordinary colour changes that occur during the firing process as the glaze reacts to heat and atmosphere within the kiln. Flambé glazes were first developed during the Song Dynasty and later perfected at the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen during the Kangxi reign (1662–1722). Produced using carefully balanced iron and copper oxides, these glazes were admired for their rich depth, unpredictability and exceptional beauty, with every firing producing subtly different results.

Each vase is hand-thrown on the potter's wheel before being glazed and fired by skilled artisans using traditional techniques passed down through generations. Jingdezhen has been China's foremost porcelain-making city since 1004 AD, with its imperial kilns producing some of the world's finest ceramics for centuries. In recognition of this extraordinary legacy, Jingdezhen's historic porcelain industry has recently been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrating over a millennium of ceramic craftsmanship.

Porcelain occupies a unique place in Chinese history. While pottery has been made in China for over 15,000 years, true porcelain is generally believed to have emerged during the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD). Today, Jingdezhen continues this remarkable tradition, producing porcelain that celebrates centuries of artistic excellence and technical mastery.

• Origin: Jingdezhen, China
• Date: Contemporary
• Materials: Hand-thrown porcelain with purple yaobian (flambé) glaze
• Features: Handcrafted; classic trumpet mouth form; unique kiln-transmuted glaze; softly crackled ivory rim; each piece individually glazed so colours and patterns will vary
• Condition: Excellent new condition
• Dimensions: W21 x D21 x H34 cm
• Weight: 2.2 kg