AN EXTREMELY RARE PAIR OF BLUE AND WHITE 'THREE RAM' BOWLS MARKS AND PERIOD OF JIAJING

each of well potted bell shape with deep rounded sides flaring to an everted rim, finely and vividly painted in soft tones of underglaze-blue with a continuous scene depicting three rams, each separated by rocky outcrops issuing pine, bamboo, prunus, palm and willow trees below cloud swirls drifting apart to reveal the full moon, the spotted ram resting and shown in frontal view, while the others playfully frolic, between double line borders at the rim and around the foot, the interior with a medallion enclosing a xiezhai amid rocks and pine trees, below a cell border at the rim, the base inscribed with the six-character mark within double circles   

Collection of J.M. Hu.
Sotheby's New York, 4th June 1985, lot 15.

 

The bowls are in very good condition overall. There is a small ironspot to the interior medallion of one bowl of approx 0.1 by 0.2cm.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Bowls decorated with the 'Three Rams' design are rare although a comparable example in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is illustrated in the National Palace Museum Quarterly, vol. II, no. 3, 1968, pp. 29-45, pl. XII. See another bowl of this type, from the Baur Collection, Geneva, included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition The Animal in Chinese Art, London, 1968, cat.no. 259, and also published in John Ayers, The Baur Collection, Geneva, vol. II, Geneva, 1969, pl. A154, where Ayers notes that the Taoshuo lists among wares made in this reign round dishes decorated inside with the three rams, emblematic of the reviving power of the Spring. A third example can be found in the Shanghai Museum illustrated in Zhongguo taoci quanji, vol. 12, Shanghai, 2000, pl. 157.

The 'Three Rams' (san yang) design represents a change of fortune with the arrival of Spring and the New Year. The three rams are often shown together with the the rising sun (taiyang) to form the rebus for 'three yang bring prosperity'. The Yijing (Book of Changes) first mentions the phrase san yang referring to the three male lines, called tai, that symbolize heaven. The tai is positioned under three female lines called kun that represent earth. Hence the phrase 'sanyang kaitai' which means the New Year brings renewal and a change of fortune.