Page 47 - Chiense works of art sothebys march 14 2017 nyc

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A DOUCAI SAUCER DISH 527
QIANLONG SEAL MARK AND PERIOD

with a shallow rounded form, the interior enameled in a rich
doucai palette with two cranes carrying tallies in their beaks
soaring amid auspicious clouds above a pavilion rising from
crested waves, along the rim a band of ruyi heads, the exterior
vibrantly painted with bats, peaches, and lotus scroll, the base
with a six-character seal mark in underglaze blue
Diameter 6¼ in., 15.9 cm
The motif of a crane carrying a counter over a seaborne
pavilion is a rebus expressing a wish for longevity (haiwu
tianchou). Thematic precedents in porcelain date to the
Yongzheng period, including a dish illustrated in the revised
Sekai Toji Zenshu, vol. 15, pl. 191. Qianlong era doucai saucer
dishes with this motif sold at Christie’s New York, 13th/14th
September 2012, lot 2580; and thrice in our Hong Kong rooms,
14th November 1989, lot 232; 18th May 1982, lot 372; and 20th
May 1981, lot 828.

$ 20,000-30,000

527

PROPERTY FROM A CANADIAN PRIVATE COLLECTION

A PAIR OF DOUCAI ‘DRAGON AND PHOENIX’
DISHES
QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD

each painted to the interior with a central medallion enclosing
a confronted dragon and phoenix amid peony blooms within
a double line border, with a band of lea ng peony scrolls
encircling the cavetto, the exterior with four blooms, peony,
chrysanthemum, prunus and hibiscus, the base with an
apocryphal Chenghua mark, wood stands (4)
Diameter 5⅜ in., 13.7 cm
PROVENANCE
Acquired between 1930-36, and thence by descent.

$ 6,000-8,000

1930 1936

IMPORTANT CHINESE ART 45