Lot 801. A rare blue and white 'bird and flower' brushpot, Chongzhen period (1627-1644); 19cm high. Sold for HK$230,400 (Estimate HK$40,000-60,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

Of compressed archaic bronze gu form, superbly painted on the top register in a continuous scene with birds and a butterfly amidst blooming peony branches and grasses, the raised middle border with a meandering floral and foliate scroll, divided by delicately incised floral scrolls, all above a band of lappets and leaves, fitted box. (2).

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, March 1989 (collector's handwritten label; verified by C.C. Teng & Co.)
A Taiwanese private collection.

Note: Compare a Shunzhi blue and white brushpot of similar form and decoration in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Chen Runmin, Qing Shunzhi Kangxi chao qinghua ci [Qing Dynasty Shunzhi and Kangxi Period Underglaze Blue], Beijing, 2005, no. 31. See also a small blue and white beaker vase, Transitional Period, of identical form and similar decoration, sold at Christie's New York, 15 September 2011, lot 1514.

 Lot 802. A rare blue and white 'figural' vase, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 20.3cm high. Sold for HK$409,600 (Estimate HK$30,000-50,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

The deep U-shaped body rising from a short straight foot to a gently flaring rim, delicately painted around the exterior with a lady and a boy within an outdoor setting surrounded by a terrace and mountains, all between lightly incised bands, fitted box. (2)

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, June 1993 (collector's handwritten label; verified by C.C. Teng & Co.)
A Taiwanese private collection.

Note: Gracefully potted in the form of an upturned bell, also known as yangzhong, this vase is particularly rare for its size. The yangzhong shape is more commonly seen in cups during the Kangxi period, taking its inspiration from the Jiajing period (1522-1566) of the Ming dynasty, but very rarely seen in vases.

Lot 803. A blue and white 'figural' brushpot, Transitional period (1662-1722); 13.6cm high. Sold for HK$384,000 (Estimate HK$30,000-50,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

Of slender cylindrical form, finely painted with a mountainous landscape enclosing a sage seated cross-legged on a wooden stool with his walking stick reading a book, his attendant standing opposite, surrounded by birds and leafy branches issuing from rockwork, fitted box (2).

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, October 1989 (collector's handwritten label; verified by C.C. Teng & Co.)
A Taiwanese private collection.

Lot 804. A small blue and white 'hundred antiques' sleeve vase, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 21.5cm high. Sold for HK$384,000 (Estimate HK$30,000-50,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

Of a delicate tubular form, well painted with branches of blossoming prunus and hibiscus in archaistic gu and baluster vases, surrounded by scholar's rock and lingzhi fungus, between lightly incised bands, all below a lappet border at the flaring rim, fitted box. (2)

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, December 1988 (collector's handwritten label; verified by C.C. Teng & Co.)
A Taiwanese private collection.

Note: Compare a blue and white sleeve vase of similar form and decoration, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Chen Runmin, Qing Shunzhi Kangxi chao qinghua ci [Qing Dynasty Shunzhi and Kangxi Period Underglaze Blue], Beijing, 2005, no. 43.1.

Lot 805. A blue and white 'landscape' incense burner, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 16.5cm diam. Sold for HK$140,800 (Estimate HK$40,000-60,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

The cylindrical vessel raised on three small bracket feet, painted in vibrant tones of cobalt blue with a continuous mountainous riverscape, depicting a fisherman on a riverbank casting his fishing rod, and a scholar and attendant in a boat, surrounded by a pagoda and pavilions amidst jagged rockwork, wood stand and fitted box. (3)

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, November 1985 (collector's handwritten label; verified by C.C. Teng & Co.)
A Taiwanese private collection.

Note: The scene depicted in this incense burner is one of the most popular theme from the Kangxi period. See a related example of a Kangxi blue and white incense burner in the Shanghai Museum, illustrated in Wang Qingzheng, Kangxi Porcelain Wares from the Shanghai Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1998, pl.51.

Compare also a finely painted blue and white brushpot, Kangxi mark and period, decorated with a similar subject with figures in boat within a river landscape, from the Robert Chang collection, sold at Christie's New York, 26 March 2003, lot 259; and a Kangxi blue and white incense burner, also decorated with figures in landscape, from the Hodroff collection, sold at Christie's New York, 17 January 2019, lot 330.

Lot 806. A superbly painted blue and white 'landscape' brushpot, bitong, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 18.2cm diam. Sold for HK$243,200 (Estimate HK$60,000-80,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

Vividly painted in soft and elegant tones of cobalt blue with a mountainous riverscape depicting a boatman punting a craft and two sages on a riverbank, surrounded by pavilions amidst clusters of rocks and hills dotted with wooded groves, fitted box. (2)

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, January 1990 (collector's handwritten label; verified by C.C. Teng & Co.)
A Taiwanese private collection.

Note: The present lot is particularly striking in its extraordinary painterly underglaze-blue decoration, and the technical perfection of the painting as well as control of the cobalt during firing, demonstrating a significant achievement of blue and white porcelains made during the Kangxi period. The painterly style in this lot has also shown a profound influence of the paintings by the 'Four Wangs', the four renowned landscape painters during the early Qing dynasty.

The subject of fisherman in landscape was very popular during the Kangxi period, see an example of a blue and white brushpot with similar decoration, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Chen Runmin, Qing Shunzhi Kangxi chao qinghua ci, Beijing, 2005, pp. 320-321, pl. 210.

Lot 807. A blue and white 'figural' brushpot, bitong, Chongzhen period (1627-1644); 18.5cm diam. Sold for HK$409,600 (Estimate HK$40,000-60,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

Of slender cylindrical form, skilfully painted in varying shades of cobalt blue with a scene depicting a solider carrying a sword and offering a scroll in a tray to an official standing next to a table with scholar's objects, amidst branches of trees, all between two borders of incised patterns, fitted box. (2)

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, November 1991 (collector's handwritten label; verified by C.C. Teng & Co.)
A Taiwanese private collection.

Note: The theme in this lot is probably depicting a soldier informing Xie An, the celebrated official and military strategist of the Eastern Jin dynasty of a major military victory.

Compare a Transitional blue and white brushpot of similar form and theme, sold at Christie's New York, 19 September 2006, lot 275. See also a Transitional brushpot of similar style, sold at Christie's New York, 18 September 2003, lot 307.

Lot 808. A rare and small blue and white 'mythical beast' incense burner, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 10.8cm diam. Sold for HK$83,200 (Estimate HK$30,000-50,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

Of cylindrical form raised on three subtle protruding feet, delicately painted in varying shades of cobalt blue with a ram, qilin and a Buddhist lion, separated by a terrace, plantain leaves and craggy rockwork, wood stand and fitted box. (3)

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, circa 1990
A Taiwanese private collection.

Lot 809. A small blue and white 'floral' jar and cover, Shunzhi period (1644-1661); Overall 18.3cm high. Sold for HK$35,840 (Estimate HK$30,000-50,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

Of slender baluster form, well painted with flowering sprays of lotus, chrysanthemum and finger citron, between subtly incised lines, all below a border of lappets at the neck, the cover decorated with a dragon chasing a lotus spray, box. (3)

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, May 1990 (collector's handwritten label; verified by C.C. Teng & Co.)
A Taiwanese private collection.

Note: Compare a small blue and white baluster vase, dated to the Shunzhi period, of similar form and size, also with floral decoration, from the Butler Family collection and later sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29 November 2022, lot 2937.

Lot 810. A blue and white 'bird and flower' brushpot, bitong, Shunzhi period (1644-1661); 17.5cm high. Sold for HK$115,200 (Estimate HK$30,000-50,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

Depicting a bird and butterflies flying amidst luxuriant branches of peony and bamboo stalks, fitted box (2).

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, circa 1990
A Taiwanese private collection.

Note: See a related example of a Shunzhi (dated 1654) blue and white brushpot of similar size, also decorated with birds and flowers, from the collection of Julia and John Curtis, sold at Christie's New York, 16 March 2015, lot 3530.

Lot 812. A blue and white 'ladies and boys' brushpot, bitong, Chonzheng period (1627-1644); 16.8cm high. Sold for HK$281,600 (Estimate HK$30,000-50,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

Sturdily potted, the exterior delicately painted in a continuous scene enclosing a terraced garden with two ladies chatting leisurely and four boys at play, encircled by willow trees, rockwork and mountains, fitted box (2).

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, circa 1990
A Taiwanese private collection.

Note: Compare a Transitional blue and white brushpot also decorated with figures in a garden setting, sold at Christie's London, 17 May 2013, lot 1354.

Lot 813. A blue and white 'jar and a blue and white vase, Early Qing Dynasty; 17.5cm and 20.4cm high. Sold for HK$64,000 (Estimate HK$40,000-60,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

The jar of elongated form, well painted with two birds perched on leafy branches of peony and bamboo borne from rockwork, surrounded by sprigs of chrysanthemum and two birds in flight; the slender tubular vase rising to a waisted neck, painted with peony branches encircled by bird and butterfly, between two incised borders, all below sprigs of leafy branches at the shoulder, two fitted boxes. (4)

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, September 1987 (vase) and March 1991 (jar) (collector's handwritten labels; verified by C.C. Teng & Co.)
A Taiwanese private collection.

Lot 814. Two blue and white vases, Shunzhi period (1644-1661); 25.8cm and 13.7cm high. Sold for HK$48,640 (Estimate HK$40,000-60,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

The sleeve vase boldly painted with two birds perched on flowering peony branches amidst rockwork, surrounded by two birds in flight; the smaller pear-shaped vase painted in soft shades of underglaze blue with a leafy blossoming branch and jagged rockwork, two fitted boxes. (4)

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, September 1987 (collector's handwritten labels; verified by C.C. Teng & Co.)
A Taiwanese private collection.

Note: Compare a blue and white sleeve vase, Shunzhi period, decorated with a similar subject matter, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Chen Runmin, Qing Shunzhi Kangxi chao qinghua ci [Qing Dynasty Shunzhi and Kangxi Period Underglaze Blue], Beijing, 2005, no. 45. See also a related example from the Butler family collection, later sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29 November 2022, lot 2939.

Lot 815. A blue and white 'Hundred antiques' bombe-form incense burner, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 23cm wide. Sold for HK$51,200 (Estimate HK$30,000-50,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

Of flattened globular form supported on a short splayed foot and surmounted by a waisted neck with a subtly raised rib, painted with various scholar's objects including archaistic vases, incense burners, scrolls, alternating with the 'Eight Treasures' motif.

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, circa 1990
A Taiwanese private collection.

Note: See a similar example of a blue and white incense burner, Kangxi, decorated with motif of antiques and auspicious emblems, sold at Christie's New York, 19 September 2014, lot 852.

Lot 816. A blue and white 'bird and flower' vase, gu, Shunzhi-Kangxi period (1644-1722); 23cm wide. Sold for HK$76,800 (Estimate HK$30,000-50,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

Of archaic bronze gu form, rising from a slightly protruding base to a trumpet neck, vibrantly painted with a bird perching on a bamboo stalk amongst blossoming peony branches, between subtly incised borders, all above a band of alternating flower buds, fitted box. (2)

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, January 1989 (collector's handwritten label; verified by C.C. Teng & Co.)
A Taiwanese private collection.

Note: Compare a Shunzhi blue and white gu vase of similar form and decoration, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Chen Runmin, Qing Shunzhi Kangxi chao qinghua ci [Qing Dynasty Shunzhi and Kangxi Period Underglaze Blue], Beijing, 2005, no. 56.

Lot 817. A blue and white 'landscape' vase, guanyin zun, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 25.6cm high. Sold for HK$140,800 (Estimate HK$30,000-50,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023

Of elegant baluster form with ribbed flaring neck, painted on one side with a fan-shaped panel enclosing two sages sitting on a riverbank within a mountainous riverscape, the other lobed panel vividly decorated with two birds perched on blooming branches borne on rockwork, fitted box.

Provenance: C.C. Teng & Co., Taipei, February 1988 (collector's handwritten label; verified by C.C. Teng & Co.)
A Taiwanese private collection.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 29 November 2023, Hong Kong, Admiralty