Page 71 - Yamanaka co Auction catalog

l06-Two FAMILLE VERTE PALACE JARS (K'ang-hsi)
Oviform with high and full shoulder, short wide neck and
broad flat foot. Heavy, sonorous porcelain, decorated with
scenes of Oriental magnificence in brilliant enamel painting
in the five colors of the fa mille uerte, with the addition of
black and of gilding; productions of the best period of
K'ang-hsi. The principal ornamentation, embraced within
four large foliated panels, depicts various audiences and
household assemblies before the emperor and empress, gar-
den views and legendary groups-in one a Rishi with a
scroll appearing before Shou-lao, god of longevity. Al-
together sixty figures are represented on each vase, men,
women and boys, deftly penciled with engaging freedom
and range of emotional expression. In one section several
of the palace ladies are furnishing music of the flute and
castanets and one of their number is dancing. Among the
accessories of the decoration appear many household or-
naments and various symbols. Around the base is a border
of panels painted with different flowers, including the
cockscomb, carnation, sunflower, lotus, strawberry plant
and peony; and above a narrow shoulder border of the
plum-blossom and cracking-ice pattern-the spring motive
-a deep border of flower sprays and butterflies encircles
the neck. (Repaired.) Have mandarin covers of carved
teakwood.
H eiqht», 19 1 /1 and 19% inches.

(Illustrated)