Page 48 - Six treasures of IMpeerial Art Sothebys Hong Kong April 3 2019

Fig. 1
Guan square jardinière, Song dynasty
Qing court collection
© Collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing
圖一
宋 官窰粉青釉方花盆 清宮舊藏
© 北京故宮博物院藏品

In this passage, Sir David highlights the extreme rarity Miniature landscapes became a highly developed art form
of imperial guan wares available for viewing and the very that was treasured by the imperial household as well as the
enthusiasm with which they were and are appreciated. scholar-literati from as early as the Tang period. By the Song
Interestingly, his knowledge and trained eyes instigated a dynasty it was elevated to new heights with poets such as Su
further insightful observation on this piece when he mentions Shi (1037-1101) and Lu You (1125-1209) composing poems
the deliberate imitative efforts of Song dynasty potters in that record their joy and delight in penjing landscapes. Lu
both glaze and form, especially the borrowings between the You in his poem titled ‘Calamus (Changpu)’ wrote as follows:
makers of the guan and Jun jardinières (we shall return to The calamus of Mount Yen and the stones from Mount
this later).
Kun,
This jardinière is unusual for its hexagonal form, although have been collected and arranged to lessen loneliness.
vessels of this type were made in other shapes, such as the One cun long roots grow densely in nine nodes,
quadrangular guan jardinière of comparable dimensions, in a handful of lofty value.
the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Crystal clear springs bring out the colour of the bluish-
Guanyao ciqi/The Guan Kilns, Beijing, 2016, pl. 32 (fig. 1). green pot in a manner
Scholars who have catalogued and researched the Palace charming enough to impress the most eminent rustic.
Museum jardinière suggest that wares of this type were With the mountain foliage in view daily,
made to satisfy the imperial demand for miniature landscape this object sweeps the memory of cares.
gardens, known in Chinese as penjing and often referred to in The layers of roots, leaves, and shoots become better
the Western world by its Japanese name bonsai. They further the longer one looks at them.
note that guan wares in this special group were primarily Making one regret that they were not gazed at earlier.
inspired by Jun jardinières which may be found in somewhat It enables me to imbibe the wind-brought-dew,
2
greater numbers. This gives a compelling insight into the and nourish my spirit as I myself age effortlessly. 4
use of vessels of this type and confirms the reasons for the Lu You’s poem gives us an insight into the appreciation of
dimensions which are smaller than is usual for jardinières. miniature penjing landscapes as well as the importance
A mural painting given the title by scholars as Courtiers and of the wares made for them. He praises the beauty of the
Guests discovered in the tomb of the sixth son of Emperor bluish-green glaze of the jardinière, and expresses his
Gaozong (r. 649-683), Prince Zhang Huai (654-684), of admiration for the landscape it holds. The natural landscape
the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and dated to 706, shows a and the man-made ‘pot’ together form the perfect synthesis
servant dressed in court attire, holding with both hands in of nature and artefact venerated by the elite at the time.
the gesture of offering a penjing with miniature rockeries and What is also apparent is that wares made for the use of
trees. 3
penjing were either one-off pieces or were made in small
numbers as their shapes depended on the nature of the
landscape itself.

46 SOTHEBY ’S SIX TREASURES