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A FINE FAMILLE-VERTE 'SANDUO' BOTTLE VASE, YUHUCHUNPING QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD
Estimate
2,600,000 - 3,000,000 HKD
bidding is closed
Description
the well proportioned pear-shaped body rising to a slender waisted neck and a broad everted rim, all supported on a slightly flared foot, the fine pure white porcelain decorated in a vivid palette of red, green, yellow, aubergine, blue and black enamels with three large fruits symbolizing the 'Three Abundances' evenly spaced around the body: a pomegranate bursting open revealing its numerous seeds inside for abundance of offspring, a peach for long life and a finger citron for abundant wealth, each depicted on a small stalk surrounded by green and aubergine leaves and one or two iron-red matching blossoms
Provenance
Collection of Stephen D. Winkworth (d. 1938).
Sotheby’s London, 27th April 1938, lot 357.
Spink & Son, London.
Sotheby’s London, 27th April 1938, lot 357.
Spink & Son, London.
Exhibited
Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, The British Museum, London, 1994.
Literature
Soame Jenyns, Later Chinese Porcelain. The Ch’ing Dynasty (1644-1912), London, 1951, col. pl. B and pl. XLVI, fig. 1.
Martin Feddersen, Chinese Decorative Art, London, 1961, col. pl. opposite p. 92.
Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 2, no. 772.
Martin Feddersen, Chinese Decorative Art, London, 1961, col. pl. opposite p. 92.
Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 2, no. 772.
Condition
The vase is in an overall very good condition with the exception of a few expected tiny pinholes and minor pin-prick iron spots in the glaze.
"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."
"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
The present vase is a masterpiece of famille verte (wucai) painting and is remarkable for its fine white porcelain. The popular design of the sanduo (‘three abundances’), combining peach, pomegranate and finger citron as auspicious harbingers of endless long life, an abundance of offspring and plentiful blessings, was hardly ever depicted in such a magnificent manner as on this vase, where the enamels of the famille verte are imaginatively combined to achieve a striking image of juicy fruits.
As such, the vase is unique, although a more modest version, with simpler design of three peaches only, painted with less variation of the enamels and on a smaller, more slender vase, is in the Palace Museum, Beijing; see The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colours, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 80 (fig. 1). A second related vase in the Palace Museum, also smaller, with a cylindrical neck and apparently decorated with three peaches only, is illustrated in Geng Baochang, ed., Gugong Bowuyuan cang gu taoci ciliao xuancui [Selection of ancient ceramic material from the Palace Museum], vol. II, Beijing, 2005, pl. 44.
As such, the vase is unique, although a more modest version, with simpler design of three peaches only, painted with less variation of the enamels and on a smaller, more slender vase, is in the Palace Museum, Beijing; see The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colours, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 80 (fig. 1). A second related vase in the Palace Museum, also smaller, with a cylindrical neck and apparently decorated with three peaches only, is illustrated in Geng Baochang, ed., Gugong Bowuyuan cang gu taoci ciliao xuancui [Selection of ancient ceramic material from the Palace Museum], vol. II, Beijing, 2005, pl. 44.