These vases are decorated in poudre bleu. With this technique parts of the objects are covered with paper. Next cobalt-oxide is applied through a gauze with a bamboo blowpipe. This causes a ‘powdery’ effect. After the application of the blue, the paper is removed and the vases are fired in a kiln for the first time. When the vase have cooled down, the white fields are decorated with enamel on the glaze and baked a second time.
The decoration with a variety of vases, incense burners and others objects is called ‘hundred treasures’. This is an assembly of emblematic artifacts.
Literature:
C. Jörg and J. van Campen, Chinese Ceramics in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
The Ming and Qing dynasties, Philip Wilson 1997, nr. 150