Vase

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Vase
China; Ming Guo; ca. 1911

The vase is covered by smooth dark red glaze, known by the French name sang de boeuf (ox blood). It was obtained by adding copper oxide to the glaze and reduced firing without oxygen.

Because of its instability at high temperatures copper oxide was not used until the 18th c. when construction of kilns allowed complete temperature and environment control during firing.