Page 90 - Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings, Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets

PROVENANCE
1942.9.504: Marsden J. Perry, Providence, Rhode Island. J. base, with the transition of tone interestingly varied by
Pierpont Morgan [1837-1913], New York. (Duveen Brothers, New mottling and areas of moss green speckling, making
York), sold 1915 to Peter A. B. Widener, Lynnewood Hall, Elkins this a prized example.
Park, Pennsylvania; inheritance from Estate of Peter A. B. Widener There are many peachbloom brush washers of this
by gift through power of appointment of Joseph E. Widener, shape in other museums and private collections. 2
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. 1942.9.505: Thomas B. Clarke JK
[1848-1931], New York; sold before 1907 to Peter A. B. Widener,
Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; inheritance from NOTES
Estate of Peter A. B. Widener by gift through power of appoint-
ment of Joseph E. Widener, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. 1. Chait 1957. See the essay on Chinese ceramic techniques for a
listing of all eight prescribed shapes.
EXHIBITED 2. Some choice examples are noted here:
1942.9.504: On display, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1. Metropolitan Museum of Art, bequest of Mrs. H. O.
c. 1910-1911. Havemeyer, The H. O. Havemeyer Collection, 29.100.352:
repro. in Valenstein 1989, fig. 138, 6; and Valenstein 1975,
pi. 35 (color).
HE SHAPE OF THESE SHALLOW wide-mouthed bowls,
1
T one of the eight prescribed peachbloom shapes, has 2. Percival David Foundation in London, Elphinstone gift,
been called tangluoxi, or gong-shaped washer, by the no. 6582.
Chinese. Collectors have called it "writer's brush bath." 3. The Wah Kwong collection and the Hong Kong Museum
Many painters and calligraphers do not consider this ele- of Art: Min Chiu 1977, nos. 11 and 12.
gant receptacle large enough for washing brushes; how- 4. Two in the Baur Collection, Geneva: Ayers 1968-1974,
ever, the ink residue in the glaze pinholes on both 3: nos. A3o6, A3o8.
interior and exterior testifies that this bowl was once so 5. Two in Chart's collection: Chait 1957,136.
used. Many more examples of this shape have survived 6. Two in Stockholm published by Wirgin: Wirgin 1974,
than of the apple-shaped bowl (1942.9.503). pis. 52b and 53a, in the collections of Gustaf VI Adolf and
There is remarkable uniformity in the size of the the Museum of Far Eastern Art, Stockholm, respectively.
peachbloom brush washers in this collection and others. Other examples have been sold at auction: Important Chinese
These two vessels have the same diameter and vary only Ceramics and Works of Art, sale, Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 29
two millimeters in height. 1942.9.504 is low and rounded November 1977, lots 98 and 98a, color repro. 88, 89. The catalogue
with an incurve to the wide mouth, which has a diame- mentions seven other examples sold between 1973 and 1977. See
ter of 8.2 cm (3 V4 in.), larger than that of the foot, which also The Edward T. Chow Collection: Catalogue of Ming and Qing
measures 7.3 cm (2% in.). Porcelain and Various Works of Art, sale, Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 19
Except for individual variations in color markings, the May 1981, nos. 493 (color repro.) and 494, from the collection of
two dishes are similar in appearance. The fine-textured, Edward T. Chow, Geneva; sale, Christie's, London, 27 November
1967,
no. 9, from "a celebrated Oriental
collection."
very smooth porcelain paste is revealed on the foot-
rings. The whiteness is apparent under the colorless
glaze on the interior and base of both vessels. The cobalt REFERENCES
blue of the underglaze mark on the bases is vivid and the 1904-1911 Morgan: 2: 81, no. 1329, pi. 125 (color photograph
calligraphy is fine. The outside peachbloom glaze of from top showing ivory cover) [1942.9.504].
1942.9.504 is rather pale with strong flecks of moss green. 1907 Duveen: no. 346 [1942.9.505].
The color of 1942.9.505 is deeper near the mouth and 1947 Christensen: 30; 1956: 34.

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