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A LARGE BLUE AND WHITE ‘RED A Kangxi mark and period brushpot decorated ૶ੰဢ ڡڀԏኣց༷ྡ་˖അഇ
CLIFFS’ BRUSHPOT with a closely related scene and inscription, in ˖௝ʆ˗‘ಛ
the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Chen
QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD Ը๕
Runmin, Qing Shunzhi Kangxi chao qinghua ci
of cylindrical form, the exterior painted to one [Qing blue and white porcelain from the Shunzhi ॲߒԳɻ੻2007ϋ3˜22˚dᇜ໮324
side with a rectangular panel enclosing a scene and Kangxi periods], Beijing, 2005, pl. 206;
with the poet Su Shi and companions seated at a one was included in the exhibition Ceramics in
table enjoying wine with an attendant standing by Scholarly Taste, National Museum Art Gallery,
working a ! y whisp under the canopy of a sampan Singapore, 1993, cat. no. 76; and another was
as an oarsman at the stern poles the water sold in these rooms, 30th March 2006, lot 312.
while conversing with a young lady, one scholar The concluding four-character mark in seal script,
gesturing toward a crooked pine tree growing Xi Chao Chuan Gu (transmitting antiquities In
from the vertical cli" ahead, a crane ! ying above the Kangxi reign), exempli$ es the popular trend
near the moon and a constellation, the other of referencing Chinese antiquities in works of
side painted with Su Shi’s Latter Ode to the Red arts produced during this time as a means for
Cli! , the partially unglazed based centered with a the Manchu court to obtain support from the
recessed medallion painted with the characters Han intellectual elites. A brushpot with a similar
Wen zhang shan dou (mountain peak of literary mark, but inscribed in underglaze red, preserved
works) in underglaze blue in the Nanjing Museum, Nanjing, is illustrated in
Diameter 7¼ in., 18.4 cm Xu Huping, ed., Qingdaiciqi.Nanjing bowuguan
zhencang xilie/Imperial Kiln Porcelain of Qing
PROVENANCE
Dynasty.Gems of Collections in the Nanjing
Christie’s New York, 22nd March 2007, lot 324. Museum, Shanghai, 1998, pl. 2. See also another
This brushpot is notable for the skilful brushpot with a similar seal mark in underglaze
craftsmanship in the rendering of both a lively blue, sold at Christie’s New York, 4th June 1987.
scene in vivid shades of underglaze blue and the The four-character mark on the base of the
calligraphy which is inscribed in precise regular present piece, wen zhang shan dou, is also found
script. It illustrates a scene and the text from the on a brushpot, but decorated with another
famous rhapsody Hou Chibifu/Latter Ode to the scene from Su Shi’s Qian Chibi Fu/Former Ode
Red Cli! , composed by the celebrated Northern to the Red Cli! , sold in our Hong Kong rooms,
Song poet, Su Shi (1037-1096), to commemorate 31st October 1995, lot 191; and another sold at
his trips to the historical battle$ eld of Red Nose Christie’s New York, 25th March 2010, lot 957.
Cli" s during his political exile. Concluding with a
qilu (comprised of eight lines of seven characters) $ 60,000-80,000
of related subject, the calligraphy is likely have
been inscribed by Xie Qing Zhu Ren as indicated
by the signature and seal.

44 SOTHEBY’S