Page 86 - Christie's Hong Kong Important Chinese Works Of Art May 30 2022

PROPERTY FROM THE RUEY HSIU LOU COLLECTION
瑞秀樓珍藏
2860

AN EXTREMELY RARE WUCAI 明萬曆 五彩海水江崖開光祥龍戲珠紋筆筒
'DRAGON' BRUSHPOT 雙圈六字楷書款

WANLI SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN
A DOUBLE CIRCLE AND OF THE PERIOD (1573-1619) 來源:
The cylindrical brushpot is painted to the exterior with four 威廉·布瑞爾爵士(1861-1958)家族舊藏，約1920-1930年入藏，
shaped cartouches, each enclosing a dragon in pursuit of a flaming 後於家族中流傳
pearl, all divided by floral sprays above turbulent waves cresting on 倫敦蘇富比，2012年11月7日，拍品333號
mountains, the rim encircled with a keyfret band. The integral tiered
pedestal base is painted with bands of scrolling clouds and florets.
6¿ in. (15.4 cm.) high, Japanese wood box
HK$3,000,000-5,000,000 US$390,000-640,000

P R O V E NAN C E :
Acquired by a sister of Sir William Burrell (1861-1958),
circa 1920-1930, thence by descent
Sold at Sotheby’s London, 7 November 2012, lot 333

The present brushpot appears to be unique. The form, which combines 本筆筒形制十分特殊，結合了圓柱形筒身及鏤空圓座，未見其他相同例子。
the cylindrical form of a brushpot with a stand is highly distinctive and 台北故宮博物院藏正德青花阿拉伯文七孔花插上可見類似圓座，見《釉色
may have been inspired by the Zhengde spherical flower holder with a 與紋飾：明代青花瓷》，台北，2016年，圖版50號，或為本筆筒之靈感來源。
similar stand, see Ming Underglaze Blue Porcelains: Decorative Motifs
and Glazes, Taipei, 2016, pp. 182-183, no. 50. Compare a wucai hexagonal 形制類似的五彩器亦可參考北京故宮博物院藏一件天順五彩八仙圖香筒，
‘Eight Immortals’ incense holder with a related stand from the Tianshun 亦載於耿寳昌著《明清瓷器鑒定》，香港，1993年，頁85，圖版145號。
period in the Palace Museum, Beijing, which is also illustrated in Geng
Baochang, Ming Qing ciqi jianding, Hong Kong, 1993, p. 85, no. 145. 本拍品於2012年拍賣時，來源提到“由威廉·布瑞爾爵士(1861-1958年)的
一位妹妹購得，約1920-1930年，後於家族中流傳。”威廉·布瑞爾爵士為
When the current brush pot was sold in 2012, it was noted that it 格拉斯哥商人及藝術藏家，自24歲起接管家族航運公司Burrell and Son，
had been: “Acquired by one of the sisters of Sir William Burrell 畢生悉心收藏，後將8,000餘件之藏品(約四分之一為中國藝術品)捐贈與
(1861-1958), circa 1920-1930. Thence by descent.” Sir William Burrell 格拉斯哥市，現藏於格拉斯哥波市的波洛克公園。
was a Glasgow businessman, who headed the successful family
shipping firm of Burrell and Son from the age of 24. He was a noted
art collector who bequeathed his magnificent collection of some
8,000 items – approximately one quarter of which were Chinese -
to the City of Glasgow. It is now housed in the purpose-built Burrell
Collection in Pollok Park, Glasgow. William Burrell had five sisters –
Elizabeth (b. 1863), Janet (b. 1867), Helen (b. 1869-75), Isabella (b. 1871),
and Mary (1873-1964). It was the youngest, Mary, who was William
Burrell’s favourite and in 1894 Burrell commissioned the celebrated artist
John Lavery (1856—1941) to paint a portrait of Mary on the occasion her
21st birthday, although the painting was not completed until 1895.

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