Page 205 - Bonhams, Roger Keverne Moving on Part 1 May 11, 2021 London

Each vase has four panels decorated with scenes from the popular A pair of large famille rose vases, early 18th century, bearing similar
13th century drama Xixiang Ji (西廂記), or ‘The Romance of the scenes from the ‘Romance of the Western Chamber’ and with
Western Chamber’. The play narrates a secret love affair between spotted bamboo edges, is illustrated by O.V.Krog, et al., Treasures
the young scholar Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying, daughter of a from Imperial China: The Forbidden City and the Royal Danish Court,
chief minister. Copenhagen, 2006, pp.605-606, no.185, where it is noted that a
similar pair of vases that was in the Danish Kunstkammer, but is
Although scholar Zhang and Cui Yingying fell in love with each other now in the National Museum in Copenhagen, was brought from
at a Buddhist monastery, Cui Yingying’s mother disapproved of the Guangzhou on the ‘Kronprins Christian’ in 1732. See also the detailed
match because of Zhang’s low station. Yingying’s maid, Hongniang, photographs of the vases, pp.196-199.
however, took pity on them and arranged to bring them together in a
secret union. When Yingying’s mother discovered what had happened, For another comparable pair of vases with very similar scenes and
she reluctantly agreed to a formal marriage on the condition that bamboo edges, dated circa 1730, see A.Varela Santos, Yongzheng
Zhang must pass the civil service examination. To the joy of the young Chinese Export Porcelain: A Private Collection, London, 2005, pp.72-
lovers, Zhang Sheng passes, is appointed to high office, and the two 73, pl.24.
are finally married.

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