Bottom of a vase 1660 - 1724

This is the bottom of a vase, made in China from ceramic material with a red glaze. Without a date, the work is difficult to place. However, we might infer that this fragment comes from one of many imperial kilns active in China for centuries. Pottery production was often overseen by the state, with pieces being made for the emperor's personal use and for ritual offerings. Red glaze was popular, but infamously difficult to produce. The colour was considered auspicious, tied to the emperor and the rites that legitimized his rule. Perhaps it once belonged to a vase used for the display of flowers or fruit. Examining archaeological records and dynastic archives would help to provide more clues. It's through detailed research that we can begin to understand how art objects like this one were produced, used, and understood in their original cultural contexts.