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PROPERTY FROM AN AMERICAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
168
THREE RARE UNDERGLAZE-DECORATED ‘IMMORTALS’
BOWLS
18th-19th century
Of ingot shape with shallow foot, each on the exterior painted with
the Eight Daoist Immortals crossing the sea in underglaze-blue,
the cresting sea waves painted in underglaze-copper red, all within
underglaze-blue line borders, the interior similarly decorated with
Shoulao and a deer at the well, the base each with a hallmark written
in underglaze-blue within double squares: Qingyitang zhi 慶宜堂製 on
two bowls and Caihuatang zhi 彩華堂製 on the slightly larger bowl.
Qingyitang zhi bowls: 5 3/8 x 3 3/8 x 1 3/4in (13.9 x 8.8 x 4.6cm) and
5 3/8 x 3 1/4 x 1 3/4in (14 x 8.6 x 4.6cm)
Caihuatang zhi bowl: 5 5/8 x 3 5/8 x 1 7/8in (14.6 x 9.4 x 4.8cm)
$8,000 - 12,000
十八/十九世紀 青花釉裏紅《八仙過海》銀錠形碗 《慶宜堂製》《彩
華堂製》雙方框款
Provenance
Purchased in the late 1980’s
出處:
購於 1980 年代末期
It is very rare to see two imperial-associated hall marks sharing the have yet to identify the owner of Qingyitang, but as Wilson notes in
same decoration. Scholars today agree that porcelains bearing Rare Marks on Chinese Ceramics, London, 1998, pp. 120-121, no.
Qingyitang and Caihuatang hall marks were first produced in 50, a pair of porcelain dishes of the same ‘Immortals’ underglaze
the Qianlong reign and over several subsequent generations, decoration bears the hall mark of Yanghetang, which is believed to
in a wide variety of forms and decorations. Therefore, dating of be one of Qianlong Emperor’s studio names. Wilson further suggests
these porcelains shall rely on the characteristics of their forms that since the same design appears on both Yanghetang- and
and decorations. The present examples, based on the style of Qingyitang-marked vessels, it is possible that the Qingyitang zhi hall
‘Immortals’ decoration and underglaze-painting technique, may be mark also has an imperial connection. For a closely related example,
attributed as Qianlong/Jiaqing period. Compare, for a later example, see Christie’s London, 15 June 1998, lot 169 (pair of Qingyitang zhi-
the Daoguang-marked bowl of the same “Immortals” design in marked bowls).
underglaze-blue and puce-enamel decoration in this sale, lot 169.
Qing dynasty scholar Xu Zhiheng (1877-1935) noted in Yinliu
A porcelain cup with Qingyitang zhi mark decorated with the same zhai shuoci that porcelains bearing Caihuatang zhi hall mark are
‘Immortals’ design painted in underglaze-blue and copper-red is imperial wares made in the Qianlong period, but other scholars
illustrated by Ayers, Chinese Ceramic Tea Vessels: the K. S. Lo have suggested later dates. A doucai-decorated porcelain dish with
Collection, Hong Kong, 1991, no. 133, attributed to the Qianlong Caihuatang zhi hall mark in overglaze red, attributed to the Qianlong
period. See also a porcelain dish of the same decoration and with period, is illustrated by Wilson, op. cit., pp. 34-35, no. 7, where the
Qingyitang zhi mark, in the collection of the Asian Art Museum of author suggests that “Caihua Tang as a hall within the Forbidden
San Francisco, accession number B69P202L.a, illustrated on the City came into existence in Qianlong times, and had remained in use
museum’s website and attributed to Yongzheng period. Scholars during subsequent reign periods.”
102 | BONHAMS