Page 80 - Chinese Works of Art Chritie's Mar. 22-23 2018

VARIOUS PROPERTIES
762
AN IRON-RED-DECORATED
POWDER-BLUE-GROUND VASE
KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)
The ovoid body is decorated in iron red on each
side with two carp with black pupils and gilt
highlights on the fns confronting each other
against the dark powder-blue ground, the tails of
the fsh on the shoulder continuing up onto the
neck below the everted rim.
9√ in. (15 cm.) high

$8,000-12,000

According to Chinese legend, the yellow river
carp travelled upstream to overcome the rapids
of the Long-Men (Dragon Gate), where they were
magically transformed into glorious dragons.
This metaphor relates to the dedication and
determination required by students to succeed in
passing exams. They were initially presented to
recent graduates, and came to symbolize literary
success in general.
The combination of powder blue ground and
iron-red decorated carp appears to be conceived
during the Kangxi period and appears to be
produced both for domestic and export markets.
For related vases but with gilt decoration, see
the example previously in the Virginia Museum
of Fine Arts and sold at Christie’s New York, 29
March 2006, lot 444, and another vase sold at
Christie’s Hong Kong, 31 May 2017, lot 3223. A
related dish with similar decorative motif was
previously in the Morgan Collection and sold in
Collected in America: Chinese Ceramics from the
Met Museum, Christie’s New York, 15 September
2016, lot 910.
清康熙 灑藍地礬紅鯉魚紋瓶

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