Page 83 - Bonhams UK Marsh Collection Art for the Literati November 2, 2022

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.

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.

(two views)

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