A Pair of Large Blue and White Vases and Covers Qing Dynasty, Kangxi Period

each ovoid body surmounted by a waisted neck, painted with four panels enclosing ladies amongst pavilions in a garden landscape, divided by foliate scrolls, all between demi florets, chevron and lappet bands, the domed cover painted with precious objects and surmounted by a knop

Sotheby's London, 21st March 2007, lot 37.

The covers are probably matched and not the original ones. One vase has two semi-circular sections to the rim repaired (10cm and 14cm long respectively) and has two star cracks to the body, one with an associated 35cm crack running virtically up the vase, as well as a 10cm crack runing virtically down, the other with an associated 49cm crack running horizontally across the vase and two other 14cm cracks. There is fritting to both rims and one vase has areas of the glaze with a multitude of very small iron spots. There are some surface scratches to both vases and the decoration is a little bit fuzzy in areas. One cover has a three rim chips to the interior rim, one long narrow 10cm and 9mm at its widest point, another 2.5cm long 5mm at its widest point and another shallow chip 1.3cm long. There is also two chips to the exterior rim, 3cm by 1.5cm and 1.5cm by 6mm. The other cover has a 7cm long chip to the interior rim (1.5cm at its widest point).
"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."

Magnificent vases of this type, also known as ‘soldier’ vases, painted with complex figural scenes required technical virtuosity, not only in their potting but also in their firing. Their shape was particularly in tune with late 17^thcentury Baroque taste, with blue-and-white vessels especially popular in Europe. Such was their admiration and approval by the Western royal courts and  aristocracy that,  according to legend,  the term ‘soldier’ vase was coined as a result of Augustus the Strong (King of Poland r. 1697-1733) trading 600 of his soldiers for 150 Chinese vases of this type.

For comparable examples see a pair painted with Chinese court scenes in panels, in The Royal Collection, Windsor Castle, inventory number 35270 1-2, where the suggestion is raised that the vessels may have arrived with the Hanoverian Dynasty under George I; and another pair, painted with figures in landscape, sold in these rooms, 10^th December 1968, lot 148.

See also a magnificent matched pair of blue and white ‘soldier’ vases and covers, from Dunecht House, Aberdeenshire in Scotland, sold in these rooms 9^th November 2011, lot 174; and a similar pair to the Dunecht vases, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, illustrated in Oriental Ceramics. The World’s Great Collections, vol. 11, Tokyo, 1982, pl. 114, both pairs decorated with stylised floral scroll and dragon design bands. A blue-and-white garniture of seven pieces, formerly in the collection of Augustus the Strong and now in the Staatliche Kuntsammlungen, Dresden, is shown in situ in Ulrich Pietsch, China, Japan. Meissen. The Dresden Porcelain Collection, Dresden, 2006, p. 6; and a five piece set painted with Chinese landscape scenes, is published in Eva Strober, La Maladie de Porcelain. East Asian Porcelain from the Collection of Augustus the Strong, Leipzig, 2001, cat. no. 16.