Large vase

　　Weight/g: 1170

　　Dimensions: 17.5 x 17.5 x 35 cm, base: 11 cm

　　Brief Overview: This vessel features a wide, round body with striking contrasts between gold and silver hues. A peony blooms elegantly across the body of the vessel. The flower’s stamens and branches are rendered in gold, while its leaves are green; the petals themselves retain their natural silver tone. By combining relief carving with colored-gold techniques, the design achieves a highly three-dimensional effect that is both vivid and lifelike.

　　“Only the peony truly embodies the nation’s splendor; when its flowers bloom, they stir the capital.” During the Tang Dynasty, the peony was regarded as a symbol of “prosperity and flourishing,” while during the Song Dynasty it was dubbed the “flower of wealth and honor.” As a result, the peony became a popular motif adorning various porcelain wares, ornaments, and garments. From the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties onward, the peony was frequently used as the primary decorative pattern on bottles, bowls, plates, jars, and other vessels. Among them, the peony designs on Jingdezhen kiln porcelain were especially rich and diverse. On this silver vase, the peony blossoms have lost their vividly painted colors yet possess a three-dimensional quality unmatched by porcelain. Thanks to the gold-color dyeing technique, though not as elaborate or richly colored as the meticulous brushwork of porcelain, the peony still retains its exquisite beauty. The porcelain body is wide and round, with a striking contrast between its golden and silver hues; the petals themselves retain their natural silver tone. Each entire peony flower is hand-hammered, giving it a pronounced relief and depth. The vase itself is crafted entirely from solid silver—a feat that demands exceptional craftsmanship and poses significant technical challenges.