An extremely rare iron-red decorated 'phoenix' waterpot, Mark and period of Yongzheng | 清雍正 礬紅彩夔鳳紋水盂 《大清雍正年製》款

Collection of Edward T. Chow (1910-80).

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 25th November 1980, lot 127.

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 28th April 1998, lot 813.

Julian Thompson, The Alan Chuang Collection of Chinese Porcelain, Hong Kong, 2009, pl. 46.

Being an accomplished scholar, excelling in all areas from calligraphy and painting, as well as being well-versed in all important Chinese classics, Yongzheng Emperor had a deep respect and great appreciation for ancient Chinese art and aesthetics. He was particularly interested in ceramics; he would personally oversee every aspect of the porcelain produced in the imperial workshop, commenting on their forms, sizes and even their decoration and glazes. Official records included his comments such as 'to refine (to achieve) an elegant presence' and to 'make thinner', indicating the emperor's uncompromising dedication to excellence.

The simplicity of the design on the present cup, with two stylised phoenix in contrasting shades of paler and darker iron-red in an attractive vivid tone, no doubt accurately reflects Yongzheng's penchant for archaism and refined subtlety. Coupled with the fine and delicate potting and the elegant form and shape, this waterpot would definitely have been among Yongzheng's favourites, attesting to his great taste and temperament. 

Waterpots of this form and decoration are incredibly rare with only a handful of known examples, including one preserved in the Beijing Palace Museum (accession no. Gu-00150292) and two pairs sold through auction; the first pair was sold in these rooms, 31st October 1974, lot 291, the second pair was sold in our London rooms, 16th June 1998, lot 260, and then sold separately on 15th May 2013, lot 171 and 6th November 2013, lot 157. Compare also a pair of stylistically similar Yongzheng dishes, decorated with iron-red dragons, included in the exhibition Splendour of the Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1992, cat. no. 168.

來源

仇焱之（1910至80年）收藏

香港蘇富比1980年11月25日，編號127

香港蘇富比1998年4月28日，編號813

出版

朱湯生，《中國瓷器：莊紹綏收藏》，香港，2009年，圖版46

雍正帝文人造詣高深，精通書畫，諳熟六藝，尚古善鑑，尤好陶瓷，曾躬親督導御窰作坊製瓷工序，品評器形、尺寸、紋飾、釉色，其評語入載清檔，如「往秀氣裏收拾」、「往薄裏磨做」，足見雍正精益求精。

此盂紋飾簡潔，以深淺礬紅繪夔鳳一雙，栩栩如生，可見雍正致古韻而盡精微。此盂窰工細巧，形態秀麗，必為雍正愛物，雍正超凡品味與絕倫心性盡收一器。

如此器形、紋飾之水盂殊為罕見，存例屈指可數，如一件，藏北京故宮博物院（編號：故00150292）；另有兩對，經拍賣易手，第一對售於香港蘇富比1974年10月31日，編號291，第二對先售於倫敦蘇富比1998年6月16日，編號260，後逐件售出，分別為2013年5月15日，編號171，及2013年11月6日，編號157。另比雍正盤一對，風格相近，以礬紅飾龍紋，展於《清朝瑰寶》，香港藝術館，香港，1992年，編號168。