Lot 4. A rare blue and white 'mythical beasts' brushpot, bitong, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 19.3cm (7 1/2in) diam. Sold for £40,620 (Estimate £15,000-£20,000). © Bonhams 2001-2022

The cylindrical vessel boldly painted around the exterior in vibrant tones of cobalt-blue with sinuous archaistic chilong, with bifurcated tails and long scaly bodies, all writhing amidst scallop-shaped ruyi-clouds. 

Provenance: Berwald Oriental Art Ltd., London, June 1996.

Note: Chilong or 'hornless dragon' with bifurcated tails were a common motif originating from ancient Shang and Zhou dynasty bronze vessels. Their appearance on Qing dynasty blue and white porcelain reflects a growing academic trend known as the 'search for evidence' (kaozheng 考證) movement which began in the 17th century. Although this movement originated in a renewed scholarly interest in ancient texts and inscriptions on archaic bronzes, as literati sought a more empirical approach to understanding their ancient heritage and began questioning the received tradition, it led to a greater fascination for decorative designs adopted from ancient bronzes too.

See for example a blue and white bowl with related decoration of archaistic chilong, Kangxi, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Qing Shunzhi Kangxi chao qinghuaci, Beijing, 2005, p.202, no.123.

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