Page 87 - Bonhams UK Marsh Collection Art for the Literati November 2, 2022

Lotus and their depiction in ponds were
beloved by the literati since the Neo-
Confucian scholar Zhou Dunyi (1017-1073)
wrote his essay 'On Loving Lotus' (Ai lian
shuo). In his essay, Zhou likened the scholar-
gentleman to the lotus who 'remains pure
despite growing from the mud' ('出淤泥而不
染'). During the tumultuous transitional era
between the Ming and Qing dynasties, the
pure lotus that rises from the mud would have
resonated strongly with scholar-officials and
encapsulated a hopeful attitude.

Sleeve vases of this large size decorated
in the wucai palette are exceedingly rare.
Only a handful of examples decorated with
flowering branches and birds have been
published. These include one from a private
collection, illustrated by M.Butler, Julia
B.Curtis and S.Little illustrated in Shunzhi
Porcelain: Treasures from an Unknown
Reign, 1644-1661, Alexandria, 2002, pp.
126-129, no.22.2; and one in the collection
of Sir Michael Butler, illustrated by M.Butler,
M.Medley, S.Little in Seventeenth-Century
Chinese Porcelain from the Butler Family
Collection, Alexandria, 1990, p.154, no.101.
Another related wucai rouleau vase, circa
1640-1670, decorated with peacocks, is
illustrated by R.Kilburn, Transitional Wares and
Their Forerunners, Hong Kong, 1981, no.176.

Compare with a related wucai sleeve vase,
decorated with various flowers and rocks,
Shunzhi, which was sold at Christie's New
York, An Era of Inspiration: 17th Century
Chinese Porcelains from the Collection of Julia
and John Curtis, 16 March 2015, lot 3547.
(two views)

THE MARSH COLLECTION | 87