Page 103 - Bonhams May 11th 2017 London Fine Chinese Art

186 187
A FAMILLE VERTE BALUSTER JAR
Kangxi
Finely decorated around the exterior with a
continuous scene of officials paying their respects to
a seated dignitary and lady, all within palatial rooms
and a fenced garden, wood cover.
29cm (11 3/8in) high. (2).

£4,000 - 6,000
CNY35,000 - 52,000

清康熙 五彩高士祝壽圖罐

The story depicted on the jar is from the play
‘Thanksgiving Thrice’, adapted from a popular novel
by Feng Menglong 馮夢龍 (1574-1645). The story
is about Xianyu Tong who only passed the Civil
Service examinations at the age of 61. Having finally
achieved examination success he reached high
office and became the governor of Zhejiang. Xianyu
Tong wanted to thank his teacher Kuai Yushi and his
children and so helped them three times. The scene
depicted on the present lot perhaps shows Xianyu in
retirement enjoying the success of his children and
grandchildren. See a similar motif on a brushpot,
Kangxi, illustrated in Seventeenth Century Jingdezhen
Porcelain from the Shanghai Museum and the Butler
Collections, Shanghai, 2005, pp.290-291, no.107.

187
A RARE FAMILLE VERTE BOTTLE VASE
Kangxi
The compressed globular body supported on a tall
splayed channelled foot rising to a long slender neck
and gently everted rim, the exterior enamelled with
a scholar leaning on a rocky platform and holding
a cup, under a leafy tree, all beneath a three-line
poem describing the scene and entitled ‘Yin Yue Tu’.
17.2cm (6 3/4in) high

£15,000 - 20,000
CNY130,000 - 170,000

清康熙 五彩「飲月圖」長頸瓶

Inscribed on the bottle is the following poem:

飲月圖
獨倚雲根邀月飲
啣抵露滴影消之
風清林外生何處
心着水壺月在天

This may be translated as:

Image of Toasting the Moon
Alone leaning against the rock inviting the moon to
a toast,
Drops of dew held to the lips, its reflection vanishes;
From where arises the pure forest breeze?
My heart is moved by the water pot, the moon in
the sky.

Compare with a related bottle vase decorated
with figures and calligraphic inscription, Shunzhi,
illustrated in Seventeenth Century Chinese Porcelain
from the Butler Family Collection, Alexandria, 1990,
p.106, no.59.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.