- 518
AN YIXING STONEWARE WATER CALTROP BY CHEN ZIQI, EARLY QING DYNASTY
Estimate
100,000 - 150,000 HKD
bidding is closed
Description
- pottery
naturalistically modelled in the form of a caltrop nut with two curved ends resembling a flying bat, the base impressed with a rectangular seal mark reading Ziqi
Provenance
Spink & Son Ltd, London, 1978.
Condition
good condition
"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
Chen Ziqi, an Yixing potter active in the early Qing dynasty, is alleged to have been the father of Chen Mingyuan. His work was highly regarded, and according to the Qianlong era text Wu Qian's An Account of the Famous Pottery of Yangxian, he was described as a good imitator of the Wanli potter Xu Youquan. A teapot of pumpkin form, attributed to Chen Ziqi, was included in the exhibition The Bei Shan Tang Legacy. Yixing Zisha Stoneware, Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2015, cat. no. 9.
Small carvings of nuts and fruits, including water caltrops, rendered in a highly naturalistic style, were a popular theme amongst Yixing potters. Two water caltrops signed Chen Mingyuan, in the Chinese University Art Museum, Hong Kong were included in the exhibition Themes and Variations. The Zisha Pottery of Chen Mingyuan, Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1997, cat. nos 74 and 75, where a further water caltrop signed Chen Ziqi is mentioned as being published in Pang Yuanji (1867-1947), Xuzhai mingtao lu [Catalogue of Chinese pottery in the Xuzhai collection], n.p., n.d., vol. 2, p. 41.