A Pair of Large Painted Pottery Vases and Covers (Hu). Han Dynasty

Each of well-potted hu form, the globular body encircled by two wide bands of scrollwork in red and white pigment, divided by grooved white borders, the pattern repeated on the tall waisted neck beneath a band of triangular and arched motifs, the shoulders applied with white taotie masks, the domed cover with a matching design of C-scrolls in red, white and lavender pigments, all above a tapered foot (4) - height 21 1/2 in., 54.6 cm - 15,000—25,000 USD - Adjugé: 21,250 USD

PROVENANCE: Sotheby's New York, 3rd December 1986, lot 64.
Thereafter with the present owners

NOTE: The present pair of vases is especially outstanding for its well preserved decorations reminiscent of bronze inlay work. A Han pottery vessel of this type with very similar painted decoration, from the Edward T. Chow collection, was sold in our London rooms, 16th December 1980, lot 207; another, from the Eumorfopoulos Collection, was included in the exhibition of Chinese Art, the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1935, cat. no. 548, pl. 104; and one in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is published in Thomas Dexel, Fruhe Keramik in China, Braunschweig, 1973, pl. 42c.

Compare three further related examples of painted hu illustrated in Spirit of Han, Singapore, 1991, pls. 20-22; one from the Avery Brundage collection included in the exhibition Gems of Chinese Art from the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1983, cat.no. 4; and another in the Nelson Gallery of Art, Atkins Museum, Kansas City, published in the museum's Handbook. Nelson Gallery of Art. Atkins Museum, vol. II, Kansas City, 1973, p. 76, where it is mentioned that vessels of this type were 'characteristic substitution objects made for burial only, in which a valuable jar of lacquered wood, probably with gilt-bronze fittings, has been imitated in clay'.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art including Chinese and Japanese Art from The Collection of Frieda and Milton Rosenthal. 16 Sep 08. www.sotheby's.com