Page 49 - Bonhams Asian Decorative Art October 18, 2016

CHINESE POLYCHROME WARES

PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF ALICE KERMISCH
9161
A FAMILLE ROSE ENAMELED VASE
Republic period
Of pear shape, the sides supporting elaborately sculpted
handles consisting of curving gilt ruyi scepters suspending
black and red molded ropes threaded with gilt wanzi
emblems, a pair of molded fish and archaistic chimes; the
remaining surfaces intricately enameled in brilliantly colored
concentric bands of intricately rendered geometric and vine
and lotus patterns all surrounding the large circular reserves
depicting scholars drinking at leisure within a mountainside
compound retreat and a fishing village within a similar
landscape, the recessed base bearing the six-character
mark in iron red on the turquoise ground.
12 1/2in (32cm) high
US$10,000 - 15,000
The ruyi scepters, ribbons, wanzi (or svastika emblems),
double-fish and chimes forming the handles of this vase
all form numerous symbolic rebuses with multiple
auspicious implications. See Terese Tse Bartholomew’s
Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art (Asian Art Museum:
San Francisco, 2006) for an encyclopedic analysis.
Nearly identical handles and similar landscape reserves
were found on a similarly-shaped but faux-bronze
enameled vase offered in these rooms as lot 8326
in sale 21772 of 24 June 2014. That vase bore the
Zhongzheng seal of Chiang Kai-Shek and was dated
to the 36th year of the Republic or 1947.
9162
NO LOT

48 | BONHAMS