Lot 470. A very rare blue and white 'mandarin ducks' ewer, China, Transitional period. Estimate 9000/12000 €. Unsold. Photo Nagel

In the form of twin mandarin ducks, one with its neck turned and nuzzled on the back of the other, the head turning into a spout, the body painted in light cobalt blue with a continuous scene of lotus pond with a circular opening on top and a wooden stopper, the rounded handle decorated with interspersed dots, all supported by a shallow foot painted with circular scroll motifs, the base glazed white with the footrim unglazed revealing the porcelain underneath. H. 19 cm. Glaze frits

Property from a North German private collection.

Provenance: Sotheby's Hongkong, 8.4.2010, Lot 1903

Notes: The form of this ewer appears to have been inspired by Ming waterpots moulded as a pair of mandarin ducks side by side; see one in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, illustrated in C.J.A Jorg, Chinese Ceramics in the Collection of the Rijkmuseum, Amsterdam, London, 1997, p. 35; and another sold at Sotheby's London, 18th November 1998, lot 1007.

A popular motif for wedding gifts, mandarin ducks (yuanyang) are believed to mate for life and when depicted with lotus plants (he) they represent the wish for a harmonious marriage and numerous sons.

Nagel Auktionen, "Asian Art",  07/12/2015