A PAIR OF BLUE-GROUND GILT-DECORATED OCTAGONAL VASES SEAL MARKS AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG | 清乾隆 藍地描金八吉祥八方尊一對 《大清乾隆年製》款
Auction Closed
November 27, 01:32 AM GMT
Estimate
600,000 - 800,000 HKD
Lot Details
Description
A PAIR OF BLUE-GROUND GILT-DECORATED OCTAGONAL VASES
SEAL MARKS AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
清乾隆 藍地描金八吉祥八方尊一對 《大清乾隆年製》款
each well potted with an ovoid body divided into eight facets, rising from a splayed foot to a waisted neck, the exterior painted in gilt with the beribboned bajixiang amidst scrolling clouds, between bands of ruyi heads, plantain, floral sprays, lappets and keyfret, all reserved against a rich blue ground, the interior and base enamelled in turquoise save for a white square at the base inscribed with a six-character seal mark in iron red, wood stands
21.8 and 22.2 cm, 8⅝ and 8¾ in.
It is extremely rare to find Qianlong vases of this shape and decoration. The present pair belongs to a small group of Qianlong blue wares with gilded decoration, see three examples from the Qing court collection, all of different shapes and decoration, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Monochrome Porcelain, Hong Kong, 1999, pls 75, 86 and 94. Compare also a blue-glazed meiping with related gilt decoration of lotus scroll and bajixiang, in the Natioanl Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the Museum's exhibition Good Fortune, Long Life, Health and Peace. A Special Exhibition of Porcelains with Auspicious Designs, Taipei, 1995, cat. no. 30. See two further examples of vases painted in gilt on a blue ground, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, and in the Shanghai Museum, illustrated in Zhongguo meishu quanji. Gongyi meishu bian [Complete series of Chinese art. Arts and crafts section], vol. 3, Shanghai, pls 212 and 213.
The technique of decorating in gilt on blue-ground continued to be favoured by Qianlong's son, the Jiaqing emperor, and pieces made under Jiaqing's tutelage retained many of the characteristics of Qianlong designs. Compare also a blue-glazed Jiaqing vase of ovoid form with a slender neck and 'garlic' mouth, densely painted with lotus scroll and bajixiang decoration in gold, illustrated in Gunhild Avitabile, From the Dragon's Treasure. Chinese Porcelain from the 19th and 20th Centuries in the Weishaupt Collection, London, 1987, p. 28, pl. 16, where it is noted that Buddhist texts were written in gold on blue paper. Gold and blue therefore had a special significance.
藍地描金製器為數不多，非常珍稀。乾隆年製者，可比較北京故宮博物院清宮舊藏三例，圖均載於《故宮博物藏文物珍品全集．顏色釉》，香港，1999年，圖版75、86、94。一為勾蓮紋瓶，另一例為勾蓮紋斜方瓶，還有一例為纏枝花紋雙戟耳瓶。另比較一霽青描金福壽梅瓶，同以金彩繪纏枝蓮和八吉祥紋，曾展於《福壽康寧吉祥圖案瓷器特展圖錄》，台北故宮博物院，台北，1995年，編號30。再參考一花卉紋七孔花插及銀桃菓紋瓶，分別藏於台北故宮博物院及上海博物館，載於《中國美術全集．工藝美術編》，卷三，上海，圖版212及213。
藍地描金彩器到了嘉慶一朝仍有燒造，風格沿襲乾隆朝遺風，可產量比前朝更是寥寥可數，見一繪纏枝蓮及八吉祥紋的長頸蒜頭瓶，現藏於Weishaupt Collection，載於《From the Dragon's Treasure. Chinese Porcelain from the 19th and 20th Centuries in the Weishaupt Collection》，倫敦，1987年，頁28，圖版16。