Lot 28. A blue and white 'Three-string' vase, laifu zun, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 9 3/8 in. (23.8 cm.) high. Estimate GBP 6,000 - GBP 8,000 (USD 7,770 - USD 10,360). Price realised GBP 35,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2019.

The vase is decorated to the body with a river landscape with a fisherman on a boat passing by rocks and pine trees. The slender neck is decorated with two bamboo sprays above three moulded bow-strings to the shoulder. The base has an apocryphal Chenghua mark.

Property from the Estate of Albert and Leonie Van Daalen, Switzerland.

Provenance: With Vanderven & Vanderven Oriental Art, the Netherlands, 25 November 1998.

Note: The narrative scene on this vase is taken from the 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms', Sanguo Yanyi, depicting the rescue of the infant Liu Shan, son of Liu Bei, by Zhao Yun. Sanguo Yanyi is one of the most popular novels in China and has been regarded as one the of Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Scenes from these novels were often taken from illustrated books and copied on to porcelain.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, London, 5 November 2019