PF1317

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Lot 183
  • 183

Rare vase meiping en porcelaine bleu blanc et rouge de cuivre Dynastie Qing, époque Qianlong (1736-1795)

Estimate
120,000 - 150,000 EUR
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Description

  • Porcelain
le corps élancé s'élargissant a l'épaulement doucement arrondi puis se rétrécissant en un court col aux bords ourlés, entirerement décoré de chilong bondissants au corps sinueux parmi les nuages tourbillonnants et lys épanouis peints en bleu foncé et rouge de cuivre vif, le col enserré de cinq chauves-souris portant des objéts precieux, l'épaulement de têtes de ruyi abritant des lotus, la partie inférieure de la panse habillée d'une bande de feuilles de bananier stylisées rehaussées de rouge de cuivre

Provenance

Christie’s Tokyo, 15th February 1981, lot 313.
Acquired from Spink & Son, London, in May 1982.

Exhibited

Seladon Swatow Blauweiss. Chinesische Keramik aus der Sammlung Ignazio Vok, Museum fuer Ostasiatische Kunst der Stadt Koeln, 7. Mai - 28. August 1983, no. 127.
Seladon Swatow Blauweiss. Chinesische Keramik aus der Sammlung Ignazio Vok, Museum Rietberg, Haus am Kiel, Zuerich, 6. Oktober - 8. Januar 1984, no. 127.

Literature

Ulrich Wiesner, Seladon Swatow Blauweiss. Chinese Ceramics from the Collection of Ignazio Vok, Cologne, 1983, cat. no. 127.

Condition

The vase is in overall very good condition. There are a two or three minor pin-point imperfections to the glaze on the shoulder and a ca. 4x3cm wide area on the shoulder between a ruyi head and a lotus flower where minor grit has roughened up the glaze ever so lightly. There is also a ca. 3cm long horizontal scratch to the glaze across the body of one dragon in the upper part of the body.
"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."

Catalogue Note

Impressive for its unusually large size, the present vase is entirely decorated with an unusual design of sinuous chilong clambering amongst ornate foliate scrolls. Rendered in tones of powdery cobalt blue and soft underglaze red, the design successfully combines established motifs with contemporary decorative elements. The chilong incorporated into the design are characterised by broad feline heads, long sinuous bodies, rounded paws with short claws and curly tails, all painted in the Ming style where it is described as the immature hornless dragon in contemporary texts. The ornate leafly scrollwork surrounding the dragons incorporates stylised flower motifs that show the baroque Western influence in the decorative repertoire of Qing applied arts.

No other vase of this size and underglaze blue and copper-red decorated design appears to be recorded. Several meiping decorated only in underglaze-red with similarly clambering sinuous chilong are known, compare, for example, a vase sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 22nd May 1979, lot 201, and a second vase decorated with chilong grasping stems of lingzhi, sold at Christie's New York, 19th September 2007, lot 404.