Page 31 - Bonhams Los Angelis December 14, 2022

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A CELADON CLOISONNÉ ‘IMPERIAL POEM’ WALL VASE The present vase is rare for its floriform design and its use of only a
Late Qing dynasty single color of enamel in the cloisonné. Monochrome cloisonné wall
The flattened body modeled as a flowerhead supported on a vases developed during the reign of the Qianlong emperor (r. 1736-
spreading foot and surmounted by a cylindrical neck between scroll- 1795), when the Chief Grand Counselor, Yu Minzhong (1714-1779),
form handles, each petal of the principal side enclosing a further flower and the emperor’s eight son, Prince Yongxuan (1746-1832), each
formed from the gilt-metal cloison wire surrounded by mint-green commissioned a number of wall vases in this mode bearing their
cloisonné enamel, the flowerhead centered by a large gilt-metal circle respective poems and names. The collection of the National Palace
inscribed in black with a poem by Prince Yongxuan, the narrow sides Museum, Taipei, includes numerous such wall vases, including a rare
decorated with keyfret cloisons and the foot and neck each with floral example with celadon-toned monochrome cloisonné enamel imitating
cloisons, all filled with the same mint-green enamel, positioned atop a a Guanyao vase (coll. no. 中琺000576). The present vase stylistically
gilt-metal stand cast with floral scroll relief and ruyi-form feet, the metal follows in this tradition in its tonality, technique, and poetic inscription
sheet of the reverse pierced with an aperture for suspension. signed (apocryphally) zichen Yongxuan jingshu (‘respectfully written by
the son and official Yongxuan’).
7 7/8in (20cm) high
The text reads:
$8,000 - 12,000 依闌傍晚放眾芬，睞鴨無勞換夕薰，一例群芳【踩】香卉，與蘭便是
濁清分。子臣永璇敬書
Provenance:
Sara Fredericks (1903-1986), likely acquired in the 1960s in New York,
thence by descent

FINE CHINESE ART | 29