Pair of Turquoise Recumbent Rams. Early 清代 Qing Dynasty, 19th C

A fine and rare pair of Kangxi style mirror image recumbent rams, realistically modeled with an alert expression on their faces. They are covered in a rich lustrous turquoise (peacock blue) glaze darkening where it pools in the recesses of the carved details. The bottoms are unglazed with one burning a reddish color while the other less so, both fired on supports and the glaze evidenced running under and onto the bases. Height:  5" (12.7cm)  Length:  8 3/8" (21.3cm). Condition:  Excellent. Price on application

Christiaan J.A. Jorg tentatively dates the nearly identical pair of rams in the Rijksmuseum to the 19th C because he feels the quality of the modeling is not up to 18th C standards as well as the careless bits of clay stuck on the surface and crude spur marks on the base. He was unaware of any other pair besides the Rijksmuseum examples, however here is another pair.

Compare this pair of rams with the pair pictured below them (though under different lighting conditions) a nearly identical pair of rams in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam Inv. No. AK-RBK 15971 formerly in the R. May Collection illustrated in the book Chinese Ceramics in the Collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam the Ming and Qing Dynasties by Christiaan J.A. Jorg.

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