Page 136 - The Parry Collection Bonhams London November 2 2021

46
A VERY RARE PAIR OF IMPERIAL INSCRIBED CINNABAR
LACQUER CARVED TEA BOWLS
Qianlong seal marks and of the period, the inscription dated
Bingyin year, corresponding to 1746
Each vessel with deep rounded sides rising from a straight foot
to a gently flaring rim, carved to the exterior through layers of
cinnabar lacquer to a black diaper-pattern ground with an Imperial
poem, ‘Three-Purity Tea,’ Sanqing Cha, dated to the Bingyin year
(corresponding to 1746) followed by the seals Qian and Long, all
between two borders of ruyi designs encircling the rim and foot,
against matching leiwen grounds around the foot and rim, the red-
lacquered base intaglio-carved with a six-character seal mark within
a recessed square, the interior lacquered brown.
Each 11cm (4 3/8in) diam. (2).

£100,000 - 150,000
CNY890,000 - 1,300,000

清乾隆 御製剔紅御題詩三清茶盌一對
「大清乾隆年製」、「乾隆丙寅小春御題」款 「乾」、「隆」印

Provenance:
Parry Collection, London, and thence by descent

來源：
倫敦Parry家族收藏，並由後人保存迄今

The present pair of tea bowls was part of a tea set used by The famous poem is recorded in the ‘Anthology of Imperial Qianlong
the Qianlong Emperor at tea ceremonies held during New Year poems and prose’ Qing gaozong yuzhi shiwen quanji, ‘Imperial Poems’
celebrations. The vessels are both inscribed with one of his favourite Yuzhi shiwen chuji, vol.1, chapter 36, p.17, and may be translated as:
poems, Sanqing cha (‘Three-Purity Tea’), which he wrote during the
Bingyin year (1746), on the occasion of his 36th birthday while sipping The plum blossom in appearance not ostentatious,
tea in his studio on a cold winter’s day. The poem refers to the tea The finger citron, scented and fresh,
made from plum blossoms, finger citron and pine nut kernels, which Pine nuts of most fragrant aroma,
was offered to the Emperor during his visit to the sacred mountain Three ingredients of outstanding purity.
Wutai. When brewed together in snow water, these three ingredients An infusion is brewed in a shallow tripod vessel,
gave the tea a unique flavour and purity. The poem further describes And the ingredients steeped in snow-water collected in a bamboo casket.
the virtues of tea making and drinking, which reminded one of the After coming to a boil, bubbles like the eyes of fish or crabs can be
Buddhist values of simplicity, austerity and purity. seen in the surface of the water,
Steam rises from the tripod appearing to alternate between
As a consummate connoisseur, The Qianlong Emperor combined Utpadanirodha birth and death.
art and tea at intimate gatherings within the Palace walls. A party Teacups from the kilns of Yue sprinkled with Immortals’ milk,
hosted by the Emperor was a remarkable experience, an aesthetic The warmth of my yurt is agreeable to the joy of the mystic trance.
convergence of artwork and tea leaf. The Qianlong Emperor brewed The five Buddhist Skanda purify the greater part of all things,
and tasted tea using the finest objects in the Palace Collection, a Spiritual awakening may occur but cannot be spoken of.
great treasure of implements and wares dating back to the eleventh The sweet smelling ingredients are dealt with and suitably delivered,
century. During a gathering, the talk flowed from the age and glaze Silky smooth the Immortals’ wine, clear and limpid.
of a tea vessel to the specific number of buds and leaves plucked for Wo Quan’s offering may be eaten.
a particular tea. Brewed and served, the tea itself was appreciated Lin Bu can admire the change of seasons.
for its hue, scent and flavour, prompting a new yet leisurely stream Nonchalantly the Koan of the Zhaozhou monk may be uttered,
of comments and observations. On the occasion of the New Year And the eccentricity of Yu Chuanzi laughed at heartily.
celebrations, the Emperor held a tea-drinking banquet in the Palace On a cold night in winter, listening to the sound of the water clock,
of Cherished Glory, Chonghua Gong, in the Forbidden City, where From the Guyue Studio I observe the moon, hanging in the sky like a
he asked his guests to compose poetry, and as a token of his jade archer’s ring.
appreciation, he rewarded the best poet with a ‘Sanqingcha’ bowl. I take advantage of what remains to drink my fill,
And chant deliberately so that I might arise without exhaustion.
Composed by the Emperor in the tenth lunar month of the Bingyin year
[corresponding to 1746] during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
134 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.