Page 216 - Christie's London Fine Chinese Ceramics Nov. 2019

PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTION
*187
A VERY RARE COPPER-ALLOY-MOUNTED BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON' EWER
THE PORCELAIN, QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795); THE MOUNTS, PERSIA, EARLY 19TH CENTURY
The ewer is fnely decorated on either side of the pear-shaped body with a peach-shaped cartouche enclosing
a writhing, front-facing, fve-clawed dragon amongst scrolling clouds, in reserve on a ground of dense lotus
scroll. The S-shaped spout is painted with foral motifs and clouds and is attached to the neck with a ruyi-
cloud-form strut. The handle is Persian copper-alloy, as are the faring neck and high domed cover which are
engraved with roundels containing calligraphic Arabic inscriptions, alternating with rabbits and birds between
scrolling arabesques. The fnial is inset with green glass.
14Ω in. (36.8 cm.) high
£60,000-80,000 US$74,000-99,000
€68,000-90,000
PROVENANCE:
Christie's London, 12 July 2005, lot 169.

清乾隆 青花龍紋執壺連後配銅蓋
來源:
倫敦佳士得2005年7月12日，拍品169
重要私人珍藏

The roundels on the upper and lower parts of the mount are invocations: A ewer of this form and decoration, also dated to the Qianlong period, is
in the collection of the Topkapi Saray, Istanbul and illustrated by J. Ayers
ya ghafran (O Forgiving One) and R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum Istanbul, III,
ya sultan (O Sovereignty) Qing Dynasty Porcelains, Philip Wilson, London, 1986, pp. 1106-7, no. 2566.
ya Hanan (O Compassionate One) The Topkapi ewer has lost its handle, and appears to have a diagonal break
ya musta'an (O Requiter) across the body. Another very similar ewer, with its original handle and
ya 'azum (O Mightly One) including a small, fat cover, is in the Roemer-Museum in Hildesheim and
is illustrated by Ulrich Wiesner in Chinesisches Porzellan. Die Ohlmer'sche
The inscribed band on the rim is the basmallah (invocation in the name of Sammlung im Roemer-Museum, Hildesheim, Mainz am Rhein, 1981, no.
Allah) followed by the Qur'anic text of Surah 68, verse 51: 70. A pair of similar Qianlong ewers with handles and covers was sold by
bismillah al-rahman al-rahim wa an yakad al-din kafaru al-yuzliqunak bi- Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 1 May 2001, lot 537.
basrihim lama sami'ua al-dhikaru wa yaqulun innhu lamajnun. (When they
hear Our revelations, the unbelievers almost devour you with their eyes. "He The form of the present ewer relates to Ming dynasty Yongle (1403-1424) and
is surely possessed"). (Translation from The Koran by N.J. Dawood, Penguin Jiajing period (1522-1566) examples, which in turn were based on Persian
Books, Harmondsworth, revised edition, 1979, p. 63.) metalware prototypes. The practice of mounting Chinese porcelain ewers
with Middle Eastern silver or copper-alloy mounts was usually done to
The shape of the metal cover echoes the domes favoured in Islamic disguise damage to the delicate neck or handle. Metal mounts are commonly
architecture, while the engraved decoration consists of fowers, birds and seen on Chinese porcelain wares made for export, which travelled via the
cartouches containing inscriptions and a further inscribed band. The metal Middle East and Europe through trade and exchange. See, for example, a
mounts may possibly have been ftted in Ottoman Turkey, but the engraved blue and white ewer from the Jiajing period in the collection of the Victoria
decoration on the mounts is Qajar Persian dating to the 19th century. A very and Albert Museum, applied with Persian silver mounts bearing the coat
similar metal cover and neck mount, although extending further down the of arms of the Portuguese family of Peixoto (museum number C.222-1931).
neck, may be seen on a Kangxi blue and white ewer in the Victoria and Albert The popularity of this particular ewer form in Western Asia can be seen
Museum (inv. 476.18-6). A later metal cover of slightly less rounded form, but in the number of such ewers decorated with underglaze cobalt-blue or in
with an additional handle strut, can be seen on an early 15th-century Chinese monochrome glazes with gilt decoration, that have been preserved in the
blue and white porcelain ewer in the Topkapi Saray (ibid., p. 519, no. 618). Topkapi Saray, Istanbul (see J. Ayers and R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the
Compare, also, the metal ftting on a Transitional period, mid 17th century, Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, vol. II, Yuan and Ming Dynasty Porcelain, op.
blue and white vase in the Victoria and Albert Museum (illustrated by Harry cit, nos.1017-9, 1642, 1644-9). Although the Ming dynasty examples usually
Garner in Oriental Blue and White, London, 1954, pl. 62), which is engraved stood on a higher foot than that seen on the current ewer, the link is clear.
with similar roundels.

214 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.