Page 261 - Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings, Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets

1942.9-647 (C-498) 1972.43.52-54 (0607-609)
Large Fish Bowl Three Miniature Vases

Qing dynasty, mid-nineteenth century Late Qing dynasty or early Republic (1910-1930)
Porcelain with underglaze blue and famille verte enamels, Porcelain with overglaze famille rose enamels, each: 7.3 (2%)
n
46.4 X 57.6 (l8 V4 X 22 /i6) Harry G. Steele Collection, Gift of Grace C. Steele
Widener Collection
INSCRIPTIONS
TECHNICAL NOTES Spuriously inscribed in seal script on the base in overglaze blue
The interior has a greenish white glaze; the concave base enamel in two columns of two characters each: Qianlong nian
is unglazed. zhi [made in the reign of Qianlong]

PROVENANCE TECHNICAL NOTES
(Duveen Brothers, New York and London); sold 1904 to Peter A. All three vases are extremely thin and covered with a shiny col-
B. Widener, Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; inheri- orless glaze. The foot-rings are narrow and the bases glazed.
tance from Estate of Peter A. B. Widener by gift through power of
appointment of Joseph E. Widener, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. PROVENANCE
Harry G. Steele [1881—1941], Pasadena; his widow, Grace C. Steele.
HIS LARGE FISH BOWL represents an attempt in the late
TQing dynasty to copy a form and mode of decora- EONIES AND OTHER FLOWERING SHRUBS decorate each of
tion of the Kangxi reign (1662-1722). The widespread Pthese small vases, meticulously painted in famille rose
crazing of the glaze, however, is not characteristic of the enamels; the colors include green, yellow, brown, red,
Kangxi period. The design presents a variation on the pink, and lavender. The painted enamel design on all
theme of the Hundred Antiques (see the entry for the three vases is identical, although its mirror image
miniature table, 1942.9.558, p. 170) and includes high- appears on 1972.43.53. On the opposite sides are
relief painted scrolls, ancient bronze vessels, flower vases, inscribed a poetic couplet in black enamel; the inscrip-
and incense burners. There is a narrow band of flowers tions are accompanied by seals in red enamel. The style
surrounding the lip, and a band of ruyi lappets around of the calligraphy follows that of the Qianlong emperor
the foot. There are two small molded lotus leaves inside (r. 1736-1795).' The couplet reads:
the lip on either side of the bowl. The peony's beauty in the morning
SL is an intoxicating wine,
Its heavenly fragrance in the evening
is like a variegated robe.
The seals read ren [benevolence], the trigram Qian y
and long [the emperor's reign title].
SL

NOTES
i. Compare van Oort 1970, 224-225, pi. 60.

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