Page 294 - Chinese Art Auction April 25, 2020 2020 Galerie Zacke

348
A POWdeR blue ‘FIVe JuMPINg cARPs’
gINgeR JAR ANd cOVeR, QINg

China, 18th-19th century. Enameled in emerald-green, lime-yellow
and aubergine and painted in iron-red and black above the glaze with
a sublime depiction of four jumping silver carps on the body and the
fifth on the lid. Double circle mark to base.

Provenance: From the private estate of a long-time collector.
condition: Superb condition with only minor wear and firing
irregularities.
Weight: 2,454 g
Dimensions: Height 26.5 cm
The flying carp or silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) is native to
China and a great swimmer and jumper. researchers have observed them
to jump up to 2.24 meters above the surface of the water with a leap angle
of up to 70 degrees. They are quite capable of swimming upstream and
leaping over large barriers in the water. According to tradition, a carp that
could swim upstream and then leap the falls of the Yellow River at Dragon
Gate (Longmen), would be transformed into a dragon. Therefore, the
present motif, depicting five flying carps, which ultimately will transform into
dragons, symbolizes significant success in the civil service examinations.
Vases with this subject are found frequently and were produced from the
Kangxi period onwards, but a ginger jar with this motif is quite rare.

粉藍釉“五鯉圖”蓋罐，清代
中國，十八至十九世紀。琺琅彩綠黃紫紅黑五彩描繪五條鯉魚。底座雙圈款。
來源：收藏家歷史悠久的私人遺產
品相：品相極好，僅有輕微磨損與燒製瑕疵
重量：2,454 克
尺寸：高26.5 厘米
estimate euR 1.000,-
Starting price EUr 500,-

289