Page 40 - Wolly & Wallace, July 1, 2020 Chinese Works of Art UK

40
A CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE ‘PING SHENG SAN JI’ BRUSHPOT,
BITONG
TRANSITIONAL C.1640
The waisted body flaring at the foot and towards the rim, the exterior
painted with a man presenting three halberds in a vase to an official, the
scene divided by swirling clouds and rocky cliffs, all contained within incised
borders encircling the rim and foot, 18.7cm.
£6,000-8,000
Provenance: from a British private collection, purchased from Bluett Oriental Arts
Ltd on 6th September 1990. A copy of the invoice is available.
The image of a vase containing three halberds forms the rebus ping sheng san
ji meaning ‘may you rise three ranks in quick succession’ and thus expresses the
wish for an imminent promotion.
Cf. R Chen, Qing Shunzhi Kangxi Chao Qinghua Ci (Qing Dynasty Shunzhi
and Kangxi Blue and White Porcelain), pp.92-93, no.49 for a transitional vase
decorated with a similar scene also including the ping sheng san ji motif.
明末清初 青花平升三級筆筒
來源：英國私人收藏，1990年9月6日購於Bluett Oriental Arts Ltd（附發
票複印件）。

38 See paragraphs 4 & 5 of our conditions of business at the back of the catalogue for additional charges on the final hammer prices