Page 160 - CHRISTIE'S Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art 09/14 - 15 / 17

998
A VERY RARE INCISED GILT-DECORATED POLYCHROME LACQUER
CHRYSANTHEMUM DISH

JIAJING SIX-CHARACTER INCISED AND GILT MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1522-1566)
The center of the interior is decorated in the tianqi and qiangjin techniques with three open fans, each
decorated with one of the ‘Three Friends of Winter’ with twisted trunks forming a fu character, a lu
character, and a shou character respectively, below the rounded sides molded as chrysanthemum petals,
raised on a slightly fared foot of conforming outline. The mark is incised in a line on the base.
11 in. (28 cm.) diam., Japanese wood box, silk pouch
$80,000-100,000

PROVENANCE

Japanese private collection, acquired in the late 19th/early 20th century.
Chrysanthemums have proved an inspiration to Chinese craftsmen working in many media - providing
both shapes and decoration. The admiration for this fower in China has a very long history, and they are
even mentioned in early classical Chinese literature, such as the Zhou Dynasty (1027-476 BC) Book of
Odes. Chrysanthemums are one of the ‘fowers of the four seasons’ in China, representing autumn, while
along with lotus, orchid and bamboo, they are regarded as one of the ‘four gentlemen of fowers’, and are
symbols of longevity and wealth. The reason they are associated with longevity is because in Chinese
the word for chrysanthemum sounds similar to a word meaning ‘long enduring’, and also because
infusions made from their petals have medicinal properties.
A dish of this type and form, also with Jiajing mark, but decorated in the center with a dragon, was
included in the Hong Kong O.C.S. exhibition, 2000 years of Chinese Lacquer, Art Gallery, Chinese
University of Hong Kong, 24 September-21 November 1993, no. 81. The petals of the sides are also
similarly decorated. The preceding dish in the same catalogue, no. 80, also with Jiajing mark, has
a related design of three open fans, one of which is decorated with three trees forming auspicious
characters.
明嘉靖 戧金填漆歲寒三友圖菊瓣盤 金彩六字楷書款

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