This is how the collector describes the birth of this collection: “I started collecting Chinese ceramics in 2005, after a visit to the Shanghai Museum. Since my youth I was fascinated by the exotic aspect of Chinese culture, although knowing almost nothing about it. I knew that “it crashed my Ming vase” was related to an important loss, but…. what is a Ming vase? Well, seeing at the Shanghai Museum a shining, brand new looking Song qingbai dish and reading that it was made a thousand years earlier, it was literally shocking. As I was captivated seeing for the first time the white glaze of a Yongle Monk’s cap ewer. It is almost impossible to describe that glaze, it must be seen “in flesh”. It all started there. And besides knowing what is a Ming vase, did come the discovery of the fascinating History and Art of China. A Universe of Myths, technologies, folklore, dynasties, personages.”
The aim of this collection is that of illustrating the large spectrum of Chinese ceramics, although it is an almost impossible to achieve target. Thus, items of all qualities are here. Far from the maniac obsession of perfect items, here many objects have damages, which are seen for what they are, simply part of their history. Better a nice but damaged Kangxi vase than no Kangxi vases at all. No invisible restoration is admitted, nor dirt either. Each item is cleaned for what it is possible: patina is patina but dirt is just dirt, it is not related to age.
The collection is spanning from Han Dynasty to Republic period, although late Qing and Republic periods are less represented because, in my opinion, they are largely lacking artistic merits, except for Qianjiang ware.
The collector’s hope is that this collection will give birth to interest in some of those who are unaware of the great fascination of Chinese ceramics, as happened to him after the revelatory visit to the Shanghai Museum.
The Mangialupo Collection.
Note about the images: due to the great size difference of the items, it has not been possible here to use the same method that was used while taking the pictures of the snuff bottles. Thus, a medium size walnut is placed near the item, as a size reference.