Page 83 - Bonhams Chinese Art September 2015 NY

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A blue and white meiping A documentary blue and white beaker vase, gu
15th century Cylically dated to bingwu year corresponding to 1626
The heavily potted baluster-shaped body vigorously painted in cobalt The flaring trumpet neck vibrantly painted with a writhing four-clawed
blue with a wide band of scrolling peony between a stiff-leaf lappet dragon chasing a flaming pearl amongst clouds, next to a vertical
border at the foot and a classic scroll band at the shoulder, the small seven-character inscription, the bulging mid-section with lingzhi
neck and mouth encircled with blue borders. meander, the lower section with a pair of phoenix amongst peony
30.3cm (11 7/8in) high below a twenty-seven character inscription.
43cm (16 7/8in) high

£4,000 - 6,000 HK$48,000 - 72,000 £1,000 - 1,500 HK$12,000 - 18,000
CNY39,000 - 58,000 CNY9,600 - 14,000

An example of a true icon of Chinese porcelain, the present lot is
decorated with bands of floral motifs typical of the Xuande reign (1426-
36). The ‘plum vase’ shape, originating in the Northern Song dynasty
as a container for wine, reached a new high point of elegance during
the early Ming with harmonious proportions between the narrow foot,
bulging shoulder and petite mouth. Charmingly, the cobalt pigment
has misfired in the kiln to a greyish-blue colour with some burning up
through the glaze and appearing almost black in hue - an instance
of the famous ‘heaping and piling’ that early 20th century ceramic
scholars often referred to. For a comparable blue and white vase
painted with a lotus meander, 1426-36, see the V&A Collection no.
C.66-1935.

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