A MOULDED GOURD BOWL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, BEIJING SHANGWAN MARK AND PERIOD OF KANGXI

the rounded sides supported on a short foot rising to an everted rim, the exterior crisply moulded with five shou medallions each encircled by four chi dragons, all between keyfret borders surrounding the mouthrim and foot, the interior decorated with a central floral medallion encircled by four gilt floral sprays on a black lacquer ground, the naturally formed underside moulded with the four-character mark Kangxi Shangwan ('Appreciated by the Kangxi Emperor')

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 29^th November 1978, lot 393.

Gerard Tsang and Hugh Moss in 'Chinese decorated gourds', International Asian Antiques Fair, Hong Kong, 1983, p. 50, pl. 2.
Foon Koppen, 'Decorated gourds', In Asia, Autumn, 1983, p. 40.
Wang Shixiang, The Charms of Gourd, Hong Kong, 1993, p. 42, fig. 5, and p. 73, fig. 5.

The exterior of the bowl has a few filled-in age cracks and a minor 2 cm touch-up along the edge of the rim.The interior has natural wear to the gilding, age cracks and a 4 cm section of touch-up to the lacquer along the rim. The overall condition is very good.
"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."

The humble origins of the gourd and its association with the symbolism of Daoist paradise made gourd objects highly appreciated by Chinese rulers as well as the literati elite. A major period of development in the moulding of gourds started when the Kangxi emperor commissioned gourd vessels to be made in the Palace Workshop which transformed this folk craft into an imperial art form. For a detailed discussion of the early history of moulded imperial gourds see Wang Shixiang, 'Moulded gourds', Gugong Bowuyuan yuankan, 1979, no. 1, pp. 86-91, translated by Craig Clunas in the Transactions of the Oriental Ceramics Society, no. 10, London, 1981, pp. 16-30.

Two related bowls with similar lacquered interiors and bearing Kangxi shangwan ('Appreciated by the Kangxi Emperor') marks on their base, from the collection of Mary and George Bloch, were sold in these rooms, 23^rd October 2005, lot 76 and 128. Another bowl of the type, in the Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection, Seattle Art Museum, is illustrated in J. M. Addis, 'Impressed gourds', Oriental Art, vol. x, Spring 1964, p. 28, fig. 2. Compare also two Kangxi bowls but with cinnabar lacquer interiors sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29^th April 2002, lot 523, and 7^th July 2003, lot 532.

The tradition of making such bowls continued in the 18^th century with the Kangxi bowls serving as the blueprint for Qianlong period vessels; see three from the collection of Sir John Addis and now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, published in Craig Clunas, Chinese Carving, Singapore, 1996, one bearing the Qianlong shangwan ('Appreciated by the Qianlong Emperor') mark on the base, pl. 79; one with an identical mark but with an everted rim, pl. 80; and a third unmarked example attributed to the 18^th century, pl. 82. A fourth example from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat Collection bearing the Qianlong shangwan mark was sold in these rooms 8th October 2009, lot 1815.