Page 100 - November 2016 London Bonhams asian Art

204 King Wen of Zhou wished to overthrow the Shang, and so sought
A BLUE AND WHITE BRUSHPOT, BITONG talented scholars knowledgeable in the arts of war and administration.
17th century When King Wen met Jiang Ziya, he discovered that this white haired
Finely decorated around the exterior with a continuous scene of the fisherman was actually an astute political thinker and military strategist.
Zhou dynasty Emperor Wen with arms raised in respectful salutation, The present lot depicts the scene when the Emperor appointed Jiang
followed by attendants carrying fans, lanterns and a carriage with Ziya to be his prime minister and gave him the official robes and title of
horse, visiting the reclusive Jiang Ziya with a fishing pole and basket ‘Taigongwang’ (Hope of the Duke of Zhou).
by his side, all amidst rockery and a willow tree beneath wispy clouds.
18.5cm (7 1/4in) diam. The scene on the present lot depicts a pivotal moment in the story
of the advent of the Zhou Dynasty, that of the appointment to prime
£3,000 - 5,000 minister of the sage Jiang Ziya, who had retired from public service out
CNY26,000 - 43,000 HK$30,000 - 50,000 of disillusionment with the corrupt Shang rulers, and the Duke

Provenance Such stories from history, of scholars waiting to serve new more morally
The Rende Zhai Collection, 1949-1970s, in the United States before upright regimes, was entirely topical during the transitional period
1990. between the fall of the Ming and the establishment of the Qing, when
the current lot was manufactured.
According to traditional Chinese historiography, the last king of the
Shang dynasty was corrupt and cruel. Jiang Ziya had once served him, Compare with a related Transitional period blue and white brushpot,
but was disillusioned and retired to spend the rest of his days fishing, with the same motif, which was sold at Sotheby’s London, 11 May
waiting to serve a new and moral king. 2016, lot 55.

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