A rare Chinese porcelain ‘Sang de Boeuf’ glaze vase, Yongzheng marked

“Sang de Boeuf” is a French term that translates to “oxblood” in English. It refers to a distinctive glaze used in Chinese porcelain, characterized by its deep red color resembling the rich hue of ox blood. The glaze was developed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and reached its peak popularity during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912).

The process of achieving the ‘Sang de Boeuf’ glaze involves firing the porcelain at high temperatures in a reducing atmosphere, causing the iron oxide in the glaze to turn a deep red color. The result is a lustrous and translucent glaze with subtle variations in tone, ranging from a dark, almost blackish-red to a vibrant crimson.