Falangcai? Fencai? Relationship Between the Two Enamels in Chinese Porcelain Explained

A pair of Imperial 'quails and chrysanthemums' bowls from the Yongzheng period, estimated at US$300,000-500,000, will lead the upcoming Chinese Works of Art sale at Bonhams New York. It is described by the auction house a ‘combination of falangcai and fencai’. So, what is falangcai? What is fencai? Why is the bowl a combination of two? Here is a guide to explain the relationship.

A Pair of Imperial Famille Rose 'Quails and Chrysanthemums' Bowls. Yongzheng Six-character Marks and of the Period｜Bonhams New York

Falangcai (珐琅彩), which can be translated as ‘foreign colours’, refers to porcelains painted in the imperial workshops of the Forbidden City in Beijing with enamels partly introduced from the West. The production of Falangcai started in the 35th year of the Kangxi reign, corresponding to 1696. Made exclusively for the imperial court and royal family, falangcai was in limited production due to its high cost.

Falangcai porcelains are among the rarest and most dazzling ceramic wares of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). They are still highly coveted among collectors and connoisseurs in today market. Some finest examples could fetch up to HK$100m or HK$200m (about US$13m or 25m) at auctions.

Falangcai first appeared in Chinese porcelain in the form of enamelled cloisonné ware. Enamel, which is known in China by the generic name of fa lan, was applied on the surface of a metal-bodied ware. Falangcai porcelain was developed from Falangcai enamelled cloisonné ware.

Kangxi Purple-Ground Metal-Bodied Enamel Floral bowl ｜National Palace Museum

During the Qing dynasty, most of the imperial ware were fired in kilns in Jingdezhen, an important centre in Jiangxi province. But that’s not the case for falangcai porcelain. The production process was more complicated. The design of Falangcai porcelain was done by court painters whereas the white pottery was picked out from those top-quality ones produced in Jingdezhen. The pottery was then transported to the imperial workshop of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The painting, decoration, colouring and firing were all done in the court by using falangcai enamels imported from the West. The semi-opaque vitreous characteristic of falangcai further enriches the design with different shades of colours, manifesting the multiple layers of paints on falangcai porcelains.

Kangxi Pink-Ground Falangcai Bowl｜National Palace Museum

Falangcai was further developed during the Yongzheng reign (1723-1735). Besides importing enamels from the West, the imperial workshop was keen on innovation and was able to synthesize their own enamels domestically. They also had a breakthrough in their firing technique from the experience of working on exported enamels. Therefore, by the 6th year of Yongle, the imperial workshop developed new colours that had not been created with imported enamels.

Fencai (粉彩), corresponding to the 'famille rose' palette, means ‘soft colours’. Derived from falangcai, fencai was introduced in the mid-Kangxi period. It is mixed with iron powder and a substance called poli bai (meaning ‘glass white). The new opaque colours enabled painters to blend tints to create a multitude of shades and hues. Famille rose enamel ware allows a greater range of colour and tone than was previously possible, enabling the depiction of more complex images, including flowers, figures and insects.

Kangxi Pink-Ground Falangcai Bowl｜National Palace Museum

A Pair of Imperial Famille Rose 'Quails and Chrysanthemums' Bowls. Yongzheng Six-character Marks and of the Period｜Bonhams New York

Still, it is very difficult to differentiate falangcai and famille rose since the visual appearance of those opaque enamels of both falangcai and fencai is similar. Experienced experts can tell the difference by handling the pieces to feel the textures and see the nuances in colours. In most cases, falangcai is applied to smaller ware, decorated with some motifs or colours exclusively for falangcai. Another way to tell the difference to see the mark and period. Falangcai porcelain must come with a unique mark with a rough surface, instead of the mark and period that we find in other blue and white porcelain.

The pair of Imperial 'quails and chrysanthemums' bowl is an example of Imperial famille rose porcelain with Yongzheng six-character marks and of the period. The auction house described it as a combination between falangcai and fencai because of the falangcai enamels in the brown and ochre enamelling of the quail on the present lot. The falangcai elements further heighten the beauty and rarity of the present bowls, in comparison with other famille rose ware.

A Pair of Imperial Famille Rose 'Quails and Chrysanthemums' Bowls. Yongzheng Six-character Marks and of the Period｜Bonhams New York

Yongzheng Falangcai and Famille-Rose ‘Quail and Longevity’ Bowl｜Beijing Poly Auction

A Yongzheng famille rose bowl sold at Poly Auction in Beijing last year carries a similar design. The two quails in front of rock work are rendered in Falangcai. The bowl can also be considered as a famille rose bowl with partial Falangcai enamel.

Quail is a popular theme in ceramics made in the Qing dynasty. In Chinese, quail (an chun) carries an auspicious meaning since it is a homophone of an (security, safety and peace). Therefore, the bowl signifies the Emperor Yongzheng’s hope for a stable society where people living in harmony.

Leading lots

An Exceptionally Rare Pair of Imperial Famille Rose 'Quails and Chrysanthemums' Bowls
Yongzheng Six-character Marks and of the Period

Lot no.: 522
Diameter: 9.5cm
Provenance: Virginia Hobart (1876-1958), thence by descent
Estimate: US$300,000 - 500,000

A Magnificent and Massive Pair of Huanghuali Inlaid Hat-chests
17th/18th Century

Lot no.: 512
Size: 158.8cm
Provenance:
An American Northwest private collection
An American Southern California private collection
Estimate: US$200,000 - 300,000

A Rare Junyao Moon-white Glazed Numbered Narcissus Bowl
Early Ming Dynasty

Lot no.: 526
Diameter: 22cm
Provenance:
Virginia Hobart (1876-1958), thence by descent
Estimate: US$80,000 - 120,000

A Very Rare Gold and Silver-inlaid 'double Phoenix' Vase, Zun
Ming Dynasty

Lot no.: 501
Height: 17.2cm
Provenance:
The Gertrude Strong Achilles (1860-1955) Collection, daughter of Henry Alvah Strong of Rochester NY, President of Eastman Kodak company from 1880-1919, and thence by descent.
Estimate: US$40,000 - 60,000

Auction details

Auction house: Bonhams New York
Sale: Chinese Works of Art
Lots offered: 255
Viewings:
14 - 17 March 2019｜10am - 5pm
Auction date: 18 March 2019｜10am

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