Page 138 - Bonhams Chinese Works of Art December 2014

8273 (detail) 8273 (detail)

8273

A rare large three-color lacquer quadrilobed vase

Late 18th/early 19th century

The flattened body of oval section carved in attractive crisp relief on In the early and middle Qing dynasty, the theme blossomed. The

the wider faces and narrower ends with four upright panels, each subject of a number of court paintings, such as three anonymous

depicting foreigners carrying tribute of auspicious objects, the top hanging scrolls Envoys from Vassal States and Foreign Countries

layer of lacquer red, with the orange-brown and black layers appearing Presenting Tribute to the Emperor, in the Palace Museum, Beijing

in the deeper carving, the flaring neck with upright petal lappets, the (illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures - 14 - Paintings

spreading foot with a lotus band complimented by a lotus band at the by Court Artists of the Qing Court, Commercial Press, Hong Kong,

shoulder, with a continuous leiwen pattern at the mouth rim and foot 1996, pp. 236-41, nos. 62-64) illustrating a myriad of foreigners in

rim, the shoulders set with a pair of gilt-bronze animal mask handles distinctively non-Chinese dress gathered at the gates of the Forbidden

suspending loose rings. City laden with gifts.

23 1/2in (59.7cm) high

$60,000 - 90,000 When this theme was employed in the decorative arts--carved jade

brush pots and screens, porcelain vases, as well as cinnabar lacquer

Neighboring nations presenting gifts to the Chinese emperor as an boxes and the present three color lacquer vase--the foreigners are

expression of gratitude for his benevolent rule was an important aspect often depicted in mountainous landscapes and precipitous paths,

of China’s foreign policy for successive dynasties. Strange animals, implicitly stating the journey to offer a gift to the Chinese emperor is

exotica and precious objects would be presented on diplomatic long and arduous. Their flowing capes, curly beards and horned hats

missions in an attempt to curry favor with the dominant nation. Whereas do not refer to a specific place, but rather a distant beyond. It is likely

the act of tribute would further legitimize the authority of the emperor, it that objects decorated with this theme were themselves intended as

also enforced Chinese suzerainty over East Asia for millennia. gifts to the emperor. However, it is more likely they were presented by

regional state officials or important merchants rather than foreigners.

As a motif in Chinese art history, Western foreigners bearing tribute

to the Chinese court is a longstanding theme that may be traced to For a similar, though smaller (31.9 cm. high) example also of begonia

the Tang dynasty with Yan Liben’s scroll of a procession of foreigners form (海棠花式) lacquer vase, also unmarked see Masterpieces of

bringing exotic objects. Likewise the Song Dynasty’s catalog of Chinese Carved Lacquer Ware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei,

paintings in the imperial collection Xuan He Hua Pu also includes a 1971, no. 32. A similar shaped vase with figures in a landscape,

category on ‘Barbarian Tribes’ (Fanzu) which included paintings of (31.5cm high) was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 24 November 2013,

foreign tribute missions. lot 340 for HK$325,000.

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