Blue-splashed straw-glazed jarlet, Tang dynasty
Blue-splashed straw-glazed jarlet, Tang dynasty, 618-906. Photo courtesy Marchant
with slender neck and upright flared rim, all on a short unglazed everted foot, the interior of the neck with a single chestnut-glazed splash. 11cm high. Price on request
Old wood box.
• From the collection of Fujio Koyama, Japan.
• A similar piece is illustrated by Regina Krahl in Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, Volume 1, no. 256, p. 150, and was previously illustrated in Orientations magazine in their May, 1972, article Virile Pottery of the Tang, pp. 46-57; another similar in the Osaka City Museum is illustrated in The Art of the Sui and T’ang, volume 3, 1978, no. 57, p. 10; a further example with three-coloured glaze in The Tokyo National Museum, Japan, is illustrated by Junkichi Mayuyama in Mayuyama, Seventy Years, Volume One, no. 299, p. 106.
• The result of thermoluminescence test certificate no. C113j26 Oxford Authentication Ltd. is consistent with the above dating.
Marchant. 'Chinese Ceramics Tang to Qing' exhibiting tuesday 6th may - friday 30th may 2014 - http://www.marchantasianart.com/
Sancai pottery dish on three short feet, Tang dynasty, 618-906
Sancai pottery dish on three short feet, Tang dynasty, 618-906. Photo courtesy Marchant
decorated in the centre with a speckled amber and straw glaze, beneath a blueglazed rim, the underside with straw glaze. 12.1cm diameter. Price on request
• Formerly in a European private collection.
• An amber marbled dish of similar size formerly in the Evason Museum of Art, Syracuse, USA, is illustrated by Regina Krahl in Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, Volume 1, no. 250, pp. 146/7.
• A larger tripod dish with a central rosette medallion and a green glazed rim is illustrated by Eskenazi in their 25th Anniversary exhibition of Ancient Chinese Bronzes, Gilt Bronzes, Inlaid Bronzes, Silver, Jade and Ceramics, 1985, no.26, pp. 66/7.
• It is unusual to find dishes of this small size and design.
Marchant. 'Chinese Ceramics Tang to Qing' exhibiting tuesday 6th may - friday 30th may 2014 - http://www.marchantasianart.com/
Sancai-splashed globular jarlet and flat cover with pear-shaped finial, Tang dynasty, 618-906
Sancai-splashed globular jarlet and flat cover with pear-shaped finial, Tang dynasty, 618-906. Photo courtesy Marchant
covered in a bright and even shining glaze with clear and pale green glazes extending to the interior. 8.3cm high. Price on request
• Formerly in a Japanese private collection.
• A similar example is illustrated in The Illustrated Catalogue of the Tokyo National Museum, 1965, no. 110, p. 226; another is illustrated by Eskenazi in Chinese ceramics from the Cottle collection, 1973, no. 7, pp. 20/1.
Marchant. 'Chinese Ceramics Tang to Qing' exhibiting tuesday 6th may - friday 30th may 2014 - http://www.marchantasianart.com/
Sancai pottery equestrian group, Tang dynasty, 618-906
Sancai pottery equestrian group, Tang dynasty, 618-906. Photo courtesy Marchant
the seated figure covered in a green glaze with chestnut lapels and unglazed head, original blackpigment cap and hairwork, hands raised to hold the reins, seated on a three-colour splashed saddlecloth, the piebald horse with cream glazed body and green splashes on the neck and hind quarters, original black pigment outlines to the bridle and strappings, the hooves with chestnut splashes. 39.2cm high. Price on request
• Formerly in a Japanese private collection.
• A similar model in the Idemitsu Bijutsukan Museum, Tokyo is illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, 1987, no. 367.
• The result of thermoluminescence test certificate no. C113j25 Oxford Authentication Ltd. is consistent with the above dating.
Marchant. 'Chinese Ceramics Tang to Qing' exhibiting tuesday 6th may - friday 30th may 2014 - http://www.marchantasianart.com/
Elbaite, Tourmaline, Orange Quartz, Kyanite, Quartz, Ametrine, Amethyst
Amethyst.
A blue and white flaring vase, gu, Chongzhen
A blue and white flaring vase, gu, Chongzhen. Photo Bonhams.
Skilfully painted on the flaring neck in bright underglaze blue with a continuous scene of Houyi clasping a bow and watching boys at play with vessels, flowers and a processional banner amidst rockwork and plantain, the central section with floral sprays including lotus and peony above downward lappets on the lower section. 45cm (17 3/4in) high. Estimate 4,000 - 6,000 (€4,900 - 7,300)
Provenance: an English private collection
The vase depicts the ancient and mythical Chinese hero Houyi (后羿). According to ancient myth, there were once ten suns. As a result, the heat on the earth became intense; crops died, humans and animals collapsed from exhaustion. Houyi - who later became the God of Archery - was so angered by the suffering of the people that he lifted up his bow, and shot nine of the suns down. Houyi was hailed as a hero for mankind.
For a Transitional blue and white flaring gu vase, see Transitional Wares and Their Forerunners, Hong Kong, 1981, p.89, pl.65. See also Seventeenth Century Jingdezhen Porcelain from the Shanghai Museum and the Butler Collections, Shanghai, 2005, p.153.
Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART. London, New Bond Street, 15 May 2014 - www.bonhams.com
A blue and white double-gourd vase. Circa 1640-1650
A blue and white double-gourd vase. Circa 1640-1650. Photo Bonhams.
Finely painted on the lower section with a continuous scene of two gentleman relaxing with empty wine cups between a board game set on a low table, two boys approaching with a vase and a qin, all on a terrace with rocks and plantain, the waist with a band of wet dots beneath the upper section with clusters of bamboo, the base with a single painted leaf. 20.9cm (8 1/4in) high. Estimate 4,000 - 6,000 (€4,900 - 7,300)
Provenance: Guest & Gray (label)
An English private collection
Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART. London, New Bond Street, 15 May 2014 - www.bonhams.com
A blue and white double-gourd vase, Chongzhen
A blue and white double-gourd vase, Chongzhen. Photo Bonhams.
The lower section finely painted with a dignified scholar cradling a staff of office in his robed arms, the figure standing on grass besides a crane, the rocky landscape also with two boys, one carrying books and the other a lantern, the scene separated by cloud scrolls, the waist with a band of foliate lotus scroll beneath sprays of prunus, lotus, orchid and peony. 36.2cm (14 1/4in) high. Estimate 4,000 - 6,000 (€4,900 - 7,300)
Provenance: an English private collection
Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART. London, New Bond Street, 15 May 2014 - www.bonhams.com
A blue and white cylindrical vase, rolwagen. Circa 1640
A blue and white cylindrical vase, rolwagen. Circa 1640. Photo Bonhams.
Vibrantly painted in blue with a continuous landscape depicting a scene from the '24 Paragons of Filial Piety', the neck with downward-pointing plantain leaves above an incised band at the shoulder and foot, the base unglazed. 42.cm (16 1/2in) high. Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 (€9,700 - 15,000)
The scene shows a hunting party discovering that their quarry is not quite what they thought. The cowering boy clad in a deerskin and carrying a pail of milk is Tanzi, the seventh member of the 24 Paragons of Filial Piety (a group of historical children who went above and beyond in respect and loyalty to their parents).
Tanzi's father and mother both suffered from an eye infection that was only soothed with deer's milk. To collect the balm Tanzi disguised himself as a deer and mingled in amongst the local herd. Unfortunately a group of hunters soon appeared and almost killed the boy by mistake, only stopping the chase when he revealed himself.
For a related rolwagen vase, see Chinese Porcelains of the Seventeenth Century: Landscapes, Scholars' Motifs and Narratives,New York, 1995, pp48-49; and also Transitional Wares and their Forerunners, Hong Kong, 1981, p.88, pl.60; p.110, pl.63.
Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART. London, New Bond Street, 15 May 2014 - www.bonhams.com
A blue and white ovoid jar, Chongzhen
A blue and white ovoid jar, Chongzhen. Photo Bonhams.
The rounded body brightly painted in shades of underglaze blue with a fan-shaped cartouche containing a stand of deeply-hollowed Lake Tai rockwork, the reverse with a table with scholars items behind a vase filled with lotus blossom and leaves beside a jardinière and other vessels. 19.5cm (7 3/4in) high. Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 (€4,900 - 7,300)
The three characters inside the fan read Chang Jiang Xie 昌江寫, and the seal reads Juyi zhuren 居易主人 'Master of Juyi [Studio]'.
Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART. London, New Bond Street, 15 May 2014 - www.bonhams.com
