拍品 2046
  • 2046

A BLUE AND WHITE 'QILIN' JAR AND COVER MING DYNASTY, MID-15TH CENTURY

估價
1,500,000 - 2,000,000 HKD
招標截止

描述

sturdily potted with a globular body rising from a flat base to a rounded shoulder below a lipped rim, fluently painted in vivid cobalt-blue to the exterior with four qilin with dragon-like heads and scaled bodies, amidst clouds and auspicious emblems including swastika, lozenge and cash symbol, below a frieze of galloping winged horses alternating with cresting waves, all between a diaper collar at the neck and a border of turbulent waves around the base, the fitted circular cover surmounted by a bud-shaped knop, encircled by overlapping mallow petals, further surrounded by a pair of Makara dragons, each with a long stout and foliate scroll tail

Condition

The overall condition is very good with the exception of a few characteristic rim frits and a few firing cracks. One of the firing cracks is on the neck and is a long U-shaped crack. The others around the foot, visible on the interior and one long firing crack on the base. The cover has a few chips to the inner rim, characteristic fritting to the rim of the cover and some kiln grit on top.
"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."

拍品資料及來源

This jar is striking for the unusually bold and vigorous execution of the design as well as the vivid colour of the cobalt. It is rare to find a jar of this type from the interregnum period retaining its cover; a closely related example, but missing its cover, with creatures moving in the opposite direction against a background of clouds and rocky peaks instead of the stylised clouds and emblems of the present jar, in the Tianjin Municipal Museum, Tianjin, is illustrated in Tianjin shi yishi bowuguan cang ci, Hong Kong, 1993, pl. 93.

Geng Baochang discusses this group of wares in Ming Qing ciqi jianding, Hong Kong, 1993, p. 74, remarking on the close relationship of these pieces to porcelain commissioned by the court in the late Xuande period and referring to them as imperial wares; he illustrates a related jar, painted with a qillin and a lion between a peony, banana plant and similarly surrounded by emblems and clouds, pl. 127, previously sold in our New York rooms, 29th November 1988, lot 180, which he attributed to the Zhengtong period. Compare a jar painted with a qilin and a peacock amongst flowers and with a similar diaper rim border illustrated in Sekai toji zenshu, Tokyo, 1976, pls 39 and 40.