Page 107 - Christies Alsdorf Collection Part 1 Sept 24 2020 NYC

the expansion of the glaze and enamel palettes at the depicted. Somewhat surprisingly, what appears to be
Jingdezhen kilns. It is interesting to see the mixture an early fifteenth-century bowl with white interior and
of old and new colours amongst the monochrome cobalt blue exterior is depicted resting on the Ru ware
porcelains depicted on one of the twenty Illustrations of bowl-stand. A copper-red monk’s cap ewer, probably
the Intricacies of Porcelain, which was sold by Christie’s dating to the early fifteenth century, is also included.
Hong Kong in April 1996. (Fig. 1) This album was The fact that the ewer is set into a stand serves as a
th
produced in the first half of the 18 century by Ding reminder that Beijing suffers from earthquakes and that
Guanpeng (active c. 1708-1771), Sun Hu and Zhou Kun vessels with a high centre of gravity were best displayed
(active first half of eighteenth century), with calligraphy in a way that prevented them falling over when there
by Dai Lin, and a foreword by the great ceramicist Tang were earth tremors.
Ying (1682-1756). The album bears six collector’s seals,
five of which belonged to the Qianlong Emperor – The admiration of the Yongzheng Emperor for
reflecting his enduring interest in ceramic production. monochrome ceramics of the Song and early Ming
dynasties is confirmed through examination of the
One of the major influences on imperial ceramics of antiques illustrated on two large imperial scrolls entitled
this period was the enthusiasm of all three emperors for Guwan tu (Pictures of Ancient Playthings) – surviving
antiques in general and antique ceramics in particular. from a series of at least eight - which depict items in
Certainly, the Kangxi Emperor derived particular the imperial collection in the Yongzheng reign (fig. 2).
pleasure from his collection of art and antiques, the The scroll preserved in the collection of Sir Percival
perusal of which appears to have had the effect of David is dated 1728 and designated number six, while
relaxing and refreshing him. He noted: the scroll preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum
is dated 1729 and designated number eight. Although a
“I used to say to my sons: Seek joyfulness when you th
copper-red dish and bowl, apparently from the early 15
can, for seeking joy leads to an auspicious atmosphere.
century, appear on the Percival David scroll (illustrated
After meals we would talk about pleasant things and
in China: The Three Emperors 1662-1795, op. cit., pp.
set our eyes on rare antiques, so we digested easily
252-53, no. 168), and what appear to be early fifteenth
and our bodies flourished.” (translated by Jonathan
century cobalt-blue dishes are depicted on both the
Spence in Emperor of China: Self-Portrait of K’ang-Hsi,
Percival David scroll and the Victoria and Albert scroll
Harmondsworth England and New York, 1974,
(illustrated in China: The Three Emperors 1662-1795,
pp. 137-38)
op. cit., pp. 254-55, no. 169), it is Song dynasty wares –
both Northern Song Ru wares and Southern Song Guan
The Kangxi Emperor passed on this enthusiasm for
and Ge crackle-glazed wares - that dominate amongst
antiques to his son, the Yongzheng Emperor and to his
the antique monochrome ceramics on both these
grandson, the Qianlong Emperor.
scrolls. As other records show, this appears to reflect the
It is possible to gain some idea of the antique items in Yongzheng Emperor’s own preferences.
the imperial collection which found particular favour
in Kangxi’s reign by looking at court paintings of the Court paintings from the reign of the Qianlong
time, such as the series of twelve large screen paintings Emperor also provide insight into that monarch’s tastes
known as Beauties at Leisure Painted for Prince Yinzhen. in antique ceramics. A hanging scroll of about AD 1750
Prince Yinzhen was to become the future Yongzheng by Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining 1688-1766) and
Emperor, and these paintings were created in the latter Ding Guanpeng, entitled The Qianlong Emperor Viewing
part of the Kangxi reign – probably between 1709 and Paintings, shows the emperor seated and looking at
1723. A court lady in one of these paintings is depicted paintings, which are held up for his perusal by attendants
surrounded by precious antiques – ancient bronzes, (illustrated in China: The Three Emperors 1662-1795,
jades, table screens and ceramics (illustrated in China: op. cit., p. 282, no. 194). To one side of the emperor is
The Three Emperors 1662-1795, J. Rawson and E. Rawski a table on which a range of antiques have been placed.
(eds.), Royal Academy, London, 2006, p. 259, no. 173, Among these are two small Xuande (1425-36) porcelain
lower centre). The ceramics in this painting suggest that lidded ewers – one with copper-red glaze and the other
monochromes from the Song dynasty and those from with cobalt-blue glaze. There is also what appears to
the early Ming were especially revered. Along with be a Southern Song lobed dish with greyish, crackled
archaic bronzes and jades, a Northern Song dynasty glaze and a large Southern Song octagonal hu vase with
Ru ware narcissus bowl and a Ru ware bowl-stand are bluish, crackled glaze. Another painting of the Qianlong

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