Page 44 - Sotheby's Asia Week March 2024 Chinee Art

The only other recorded example appears to be a 另比兩青釉例，其一藏於東京靜嘉堂，曾展於「兩大
Yongzheng reign-marked example with a Ru-type glaze 巔峰─宋瓷及清代官窯」特展 ，東京，2023年，
in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, included in the 編號 84，另一例售於香港蘇富比2009年10月8日，
Illustrated Catalogue of Ch’ing Dynasty Porcelain in the 編號1632。比較一清乾隆茶葉末釉三犧尊，2020 年 7
National Palace Museum: K’ang-hsi Ware and Yung- 月 11 日售於香港蘇富比，編號 116。與本品兩例，
cheng Ware, Tokyo, 1980, cat. no. 129 (fig. 2). For more
commonly found Qianlong reign-marked examples of 本尊更能展現宋瓷氣韻而不失三羊寫實造型，較乾隆
‘three rams’ vases, see another with a Ru-type glaze, 作例更為生動而無匠氣。
included in the exhibition Qingdai danseyou ciqi/Special 羊，古同「祥」，又與「陽」同音，象徵陽剛之氣，
Exhibition of Ch’ing Dynasty Monochrome Porcelains in 以三羊喻八卦中的「三陽」，陽氣盛極而陰衰微也。
the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1989, cat. no. 88,
one with a guan-type glaze in the Walters Art Gallery, 羊有祥瑞、幸福之意，三羊則指「三羊開泰」，寓意
Baltimore, published in Stephen W. Bushell, Oriental 春季大地回春 ，象徵吉祥幸福。
Ceramic Art, London, 1981 (1896), pl. LXXVII, and two 乾隆皇帝尤好三羊紋飾，常見飾於圖畫及器物之上，
celadon-glazed examples, one in the Seikado Bunko, 例如一件三陽開泰玉件與一件料器，展於《盛世華
Tokyo, included in the exhibition Twin Peaks: The Sublime
Art of Song Ceramics and the Sophistication of Official 章》，皇家藝術學院，倫敦，2005至2006年，編號
Kiln of Qing, Tokyo, 2023, cat. no. 84, the other sold 298-299。 北京故宮博物院清宮舊藏且有一乾隆仿官
in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th October 2009, lot 1632. 釉三犠梅瓶，見於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集•
Compare also a teadust example with the same form, 顏色釉》，香港，1999年，圖版208。
sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 11th July 2020, lot 116. The
present vase recreates the spirit of the Song glaze more
successfully, while retaining the naturalism of the ram
heads, where the Qianlong examples exhibit a certain
degree of mechanism in production.
The ram is a traditional emblem of good luck, since the
Chinese term for ram (or goat), yang, is a homophone of
yang, ‘sun’, and represents the male or positive principle
in the yin-yang duality. The Chinese character for ram is
also used as a variant for a similar character pronounced
xiang, which means happiness. Three rams, san yang, are
considered a particularly auspicious symbol, evoking the
expression san yang kai tai, the awakening of nature in
spring, which signifies good luck and happiness. San yang
shen are the three yang spirits in Daoism, the ‘original spirit’,
the ‘spirit that knows’, and the ‘real spirit’.
The motif of the three rams maintained its allure throughout
the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, who appears to have
been particularly fond of it. It is represented in two- and
three-dimensional form; see, for example, a jade and a glass
carving included in the exhibition China. The Three Emperors,
1662-1795, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2005-2006, cat.
nos 298 and 299. A ‘three rams’ vase of meiping form with
a guan-type glaze, also of Qianlong mark and period, from
the Qing Court Collection and still in Beijing, is published in
The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum:
Monochrome Porcelain, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 208.

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