A rare carved 'Longquan' celadon-glazed 'scholars gathering' jar (Guan), Yuan / early Ming dynasty, 14th century

Narrative figure scenes are a characteristic subject of decoration both on Longquan celadon and on Jingdezhen blue and white porcelain of the 14th century, although they are extremely scarce in both wares. In her article 'Sources of Decoration in Chinese Porcelain from the 14th to the 16th Century', Percival David Foundation Colloquies, pp 60-61, Margaret Medley discusses popular dramas of the day which were painted on a group of porcelains, 'the work of a professional painted of the highest order' of the time.  

No celadon-glazed jar of the same design appears to be recorded, but a related jar carved with four pairs of figures engaged in various pursuits from the J. Pierpont Morgan Collection and deaccessioned by the University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, was sold in these rooms, 25th May 1975, lot 239. Further examples carved with differing narrative scenes include one from the collection of Mrs R. Collin Smith sold in our London rooms, 7th February 1967, lot 76; one from the Su Lin An Collection, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 31st October 1995, lot 310; and a third from the Jingguantang Collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 3rd November 1996, lot 540.