The T.Y. Chao famille verte rouleau vase - Kangxi

Of tall rouleau form with high shoulder, slightly waisted neck and galleried rim, brightly enamelled around the exterior in a continuous scene with ten elegantly dressed ladies, two seated at a table playing the weiqi while another lady rests her elbow on the table between two other ladies holding fans, the reverse with another lady seated at a table painting a mountain scene with three other ladies looking on, the table suitably dressed with books, brushpots, inkstone and censer, another table with naturalistically wood grain apron and frieze on which rests a tied qin, a gu with peacock feathers, a vase and tripod censer, the base with square seal mark within a double ring, wood stand and fitted box. 43cm (17in) high. (3). Estimate: HK$1,500,000 - 2,000,000, $190,000 - 260,000

Provenance: The collection of Captain Vivian Bulkeley-Johnson, who formed The Mount Trust Collection
The T. Y. Chao Family Trust
Sotheby's Hong Kong, The T.Y. Chao Private and Family Trust Collections of Important Chinese Ceramics and Jade Carvings, 18 November 1986, lot 123

Exhibited: The Mount Trust Collection, The Victoria and Albert Museum, 1970, cat. no.103.
Ming and Ch'ing Porcelain from the collection of the T.Y. Chao Family Foundation, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1978, cat. no. 68.

The pair to this vase, from The Salting Bequest, c.1244-1910, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, is illustrated by Rose Kerr in Chinese Ceramics, Porcelain of the Qing Dynasty, 1644-1911, no.77, pg.99.

The elaborate design on the current vase is also known as 'The Four Elegant Accomplishments', being music, weiqi, literature and painting.

(Copyright © 2002-2007 Bonhams 1793 Ltd., Images and Text All Rights Reserved)

Bonhams.Fine Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Paintings, 26 Nov 2007. JW Marriott Hotel, Admiralty, Hong Kong