Lot 344. A 'Blanc-De-Chine' Group of Maidens on a Log Raft, Late Qing Dynasty; 31 cm., 12 1/4 in. Estimate 3,000—5,000 GBP. Lot sold  3,000 GBP. Photo courtesy Sotheby's 2008

with four beautifully modelled ladies on an elongated section of a gnarled log, tapering at the stern and rising up towards shooting leaves, one lady at the prow leaning out to trail her ribbons and hand in the high waves, another kneeling before a stand bearing teapot, vase and finger citron, a third standing beside a platter of twisted bread rolls holding a lobed box and the fourth maiden with a hooded winter coat holding up a pipa lute, wood stand. 

Provenance: Collection of M. Santarelli, Buenos Aires, Argentina (according to label).

Note: A slightly more elaborate group with female orchestra, bearing the Xu Yunlin sealmark of Xu Youyi (1887-1940), was exhibited China Institute, Blanc de Chine. Divine Images in Porcelain, New York, 2002, cat.no. 77, where John Ayers identifies the maidens as companions of Xiwangmu, the Queen Mother of the West. A less elaborate and smaller raft group is illustrated R. Blumenfield, Blanc de Chine. The Great Porcelain of Dehua, Berkeley, 2002, p. 97, pl. C.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. 05 Nov 08. London