Page 155 - Sotheby's Asia Week March 2024 Chinee Art

323
A RARE BLUE AND WHITE ‘FIGURAL’ 清康熙初 青花牛郎織女圖筆筒
BRUSHPOT, QING DYNASTY, EARLY KANGXI
PERIOD
Diameter 6⅞ in., 17.6 cm
Finely painted, the present brushpot is rare on account of its
depictions of different scenes from the love story of Niulang
(the Cowherd) and Zhinü (the Weaving Maid). It recounts
the lovers’ first romantic encounter as well as their eventual
separation forced by Queen Mother of the West. Yet, despite
the separation, one is reminded of the eventual reunion of
Niulang and Zhinü from the numerous painted magpies
surrounding the figures in the scenes. In the popular folklore,
the story ends with the lovers permitted to be reunited every
year on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar
when magpies come together to form a bridge that allows
the separated lovers to cross over and reunite.
For a Kangxi blue and white vase depicting the same story,
see one previously in the Jie Rui Tang Collection, sold in
these rooms, 20th March 2018, lot 315. For brushpots
painted in a similar style, see one included in The Dr. Lowell
Young Collection, Marchant, London, 2012, cat. no. 20;
and another included in Underglaze Blue and Copper Red,
Marchant, London, 2016. cat. no. 6.
⊖ $ 5,000-7,000

322
AN UNDERGLAZE-BLUE AND COPPER-RED 清康熙初 青花釉裏紅西廂記人物故事圖盤
‘ROMANCE OF THE WESTERN CHAMBER’ DISH,
QING DYNASTY, EARLY KANGXI PERIOD
Diameter 13⅛ in., 33.2 cm
Finely painted, the present dish depicts a scene from the
popular tale ‘Romance of the Western Chamber’. In the
scene, the monk to the left, Huiming, is volunteering to
deliver a letter from Zhang Sheng, depicted in the center
of the dish, to Zhang’s childhood friend, the ‘White Horse
General’. In a sense of urgency, Huiming points to the
raised banners depicted in the far distance, signaling the
forthcoming local bandit, Huang Feihu, who is approaching
to raid the monastery and demand that Yingying be his wife.
This scene marks a turning point in Zhang and Yingying’s
relationship in the story, where Zhang is able to help protect
Yingying from the barbaric Huang, and eventually marry
Yingying in the end.

⊖ $ 7,000-9,000

306 SOTHEBY’S COMPLETE CATALOGUING AVAILABLE AT SOTHEBYS.COM/N11410 KANGXI PORCELAIN FROM A BRITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION 307