THREE 'MONTH CUPS' MARKS AND PERIOD OF KANGXI

each delicately potted with steep sides and slightly everted rim, painted on the exterior in soft underglaze-blue and various-coloured enamels, each depicting different scenes: a flowering and fruiting pomegranate tree among flowers signifying the fifth month; a hare under a cassia tree signifying the eighth month; insects hovering around a rose bush and rocks signifying the tenth month, each cup inscribed with a seasonal couplet by a Tang poet bearing individual seal marks in underglaze-blue, inscribed with six-character marks within double circles in underglaze-blue (3)

The interior of the eighth month cup has a patch of burst bubbles on the interior, visible on the exterior. There is also a hairline crack extending from the mouthrim to the footrim. The two other cups have no condition issues. The 10th month cup has a faint bodyline around the foot (not a structural issue), visible on the interior under strong light.
"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."

Sets of twelve month cups were commissioned by the Qing emperors to display their opulence and create a sense of imperial prosperity and strength throughout every month of the year. The emperors would have dined in solitary, using only the relevant cups for the right month of the year.

Each cup has a specific floral decoration, accompanied by a seasonal couplet from a Tang poet. The Emperor Kangxi was known to inaugurate the practice of shipping small quantities of blank porcelain cups from Jingdezhen to the enamel workshops at his palace. A complete set of famille verte month cups of Kangxi mark and period are in the Idemitsu Museum of Art, Tokyo, from the collection of J. M. Hu, sold in our New York rooms, 4th June 1985, lot 50, and illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, 1987, pl. 221.

The inscription of the fifth month cup reads, lu se zhu lian ying, xiang feng fen bi zhe. 'Its colour unfolds like the sun or pearl curtains, the breeze bears its fragrance in the shade of the white-washed wall.'

The inscription of the eigth month cup reads, zhi sheng wu xian yue, hua man zi ran qiu. 'Its branches are growing for months and months, once it is in full bloom, autumn has clearly arrived.'

The inscription of the tenth month cup reads, bu sui qian zhong jin, du fang yi nian hong. 'Unlike a thousand other planets that perish, this one alone blazes red throughout the year.'

Four complete sets have been offered for sale: one from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. R. Palmer, in our London rooms, 28th May 1968, lot 124; one from the collection of Paul and Helen Bernat, in these rooms, 15th November 1988, lot 22, and in the Jingguantang Collection; also sold in these rooms, 20th May 1987, lot 576, another in 19th March 1991, lot 543.