Lot 24. A rare blue and white 'Romance of the Western Chamber' square vase, Kangxi six-character mark and of the period (1662-1722); 49.8cm (19 1/2in) high. Sold for £35,580 (Estimate £30,000 - 40,000). © Bonhams 2001-2022

Heavily potted with four tapering sides surmounted by a waisted cylindrical neck with flaring mouth-rim, the body painted in bold tones of cobalt-blue with a scene of a gentleman with a queue holding a fly-whisk and seated before a dignitary in front of a screen, another side with a scholar and monk emerging from a pavilion with two ladies gazing at them, another side with mounted soldiers charging towards each other, the fourth side with a lady peering out from the window of a tall pavilion, gazing at a scholar and boy-attendant carying a guqin.

Provenance: a Bavaria, Germany private collection, by repute
Sotheby's London, 15 May 2007, lot 68.

Note: The present vase depicts scenes from the popular 13th century drama Xixiang Ji (西廂記), or 'The Romance of the Western Chamber'. The play narrates a secret love affair between the young scholar Zhang Sheng, and Cui Yingying, daughter of a chief minister.

Although scholar Zhang and Cui Yingying fell in love with each other at a Buddhist monastery, Cui Yingying's mother disapproved of the match because of Zhang's low status. Yingying's maid Hongniang, however, took pity on them and arranged to bring them together in a secret union. When Yingying's mother discovered what had happened, she reluctantly agreed to a formal marriage on the condition that Zhang must pass the Civil Service examination. To the joy of the young lovers, Zhang Sheng passes, is appointed to high office, and the two are finally married.

The scenes on the present lot refer to scene 3 (Book 1): Scholar Zhang, holding a fan, is shown around the temple by the abbot. He sees Cui Yingying and her maid Hongniang strolling outside and although Yingying keeps her fan high in a modest gesture to hide her face, Zhang falls in love. Scene 4 (Book 1) shows Zhang seated, asking permission to stay at the temple from the abbot opposite holding a fly whisk. Scene 5 (Book 1), shows scholar Zhang reciting a love poem in the garden holding a fan. Next to him is the maid Hongniang and an attendant. Looking down from the window is Cui Yingying. Finally, the vase shows scene 10 (book 3), Du Que and Huiming clash with the rebel Sun Biao. I thought it might be easier to just do the whole thing as a whole below so you can copy and paste? Below is the whole footnote, which can just copy and paste again? 清康熙 青花「西廂記」方瓶 Provenance: a Bavaria, Germany private collection, by repute Sotheby's London, 15 May 2007, lot 68 來源:德國巴伐利亞私人收藏（擬） 蘇富比倫敦，2007年5月15日，拍品68 The present vase depicts scenes from the popular 13th century drama Xixiang Ji (西廂記), or 'The Romance of the Western Chamber'. The play narrates a secret love affair between the young scholar Zhang Sheng, and Cui Yingying, daughter of a chief minister. Although scholar Zhang and Cui Yingying fell in love with each other at a Buddhist monastery, Cui Yingying's mother disapproved of the match because of Zhang's low status. Yingying's maid Hongniang, however, took pity on them and arranged to bring them together in a secret union. When Yingying's mother discovered what had happened, she reluctantly agreed to a formal marriage on the condition that Zhang must pass the Civil Service examination. To the joy of the young lovers, Zhang Sheng passes, is appointed to high office, and the two are finally married. The scenes on the present lot refer to scene 3 (Book 1): Scholar Zhang, holding a fan, is shown around the temple by the abbot. He sees Cui Yingying and her maid Hongniang strolling outside and although Yingying keeps her fan high in a modest gesture to hide her face, Zhang falls in love. Scene 4 (Book 1) shows Zhang seated, asking permission to stay at the temple from the abbot opposite holding a fly whisk. Scene 5 (Book 1), shows scholar Zhang reciting a love poem in the garden holding a fan. Next to him is the maid Hongniang and an attendant. Looking down from the window is Cui Yingying. Finally, the vase shows scene 10 (book 3), Du Que and Huiming clash with the rebel Sun Biao. See two blue and white vases, Kangxi six-character marks and of the period, of this type illustrated in Seventeenth Century Chinese Porcelain from the Butler Family Collection, Alexandria, Virginia, 1990, nos.118 and 120, painted with different scenes of figures in landscape

See two blue and white vases, Kangxi six-character marks and of the period, of this type illustrated in Seventeenth Century Chinese Porcelain from the Butler Family Collection, Alexandria, Virginia, 1990, nos.118 and 120, painted with different scenes of figures in landscape.

Bonhams. THE MARSH COLLECTION ART FOR THE LITERATI, 3 November 2022, London, New Bond Street