Page 124 - Bonhams Asian Art London November 5, 2020

Kitley House, Yealmpton, UK William Morton Eden, 5th Baron Auckland

THE PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN FAMILY 歐洲家族藏品 Kitley House, Yealmpton, which belonged to the Pollexfen Bastard
family, was rented by William Morton Eden, 5th Baron Auckland (1859-
106 1917) between 1900 and his death in 1917. The Barons Auckland are
A PAIR OF RARE LARGE CINNABAR LACQUER DOUBLE- members of the prominent Eden family, which included George Eden,
Baron Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland and 2nd Baron Auckland (1784-
GOURD ‘DAJI’ VASES
Qianlong 1849), who as Governor-General of India (1836-1842) was responsible
Both vases with slightly flattened sides and narrow waist, rising from for the war in Afghanistan and deployed forces to China in the First
rectangular feet detailed with narrow bands, the upper bulbs set with Opium War.
a central medallion to either side enclosing the Da character on a
gilt-lacquer ground bordered by mother-of-pearl, the lower bulb with The present pair of vases encapsulate the highest standards achieved
a Ji character within similarly decorated medallions, all reserved on in Imperial production of lacquerware during the period of the Qianlong
finely carved scrolling lotus blooms and the Eight Buddhist Emblems, emperor. The style developed under the ruler’s guidance at the Imperial
bajixiang, on a wan diaper ground, attached zitan stands. workshops is easily recognisable in its combination of opulence and
48cm (18 7/8in) high. (2). carving precision.

The characters Da Ji express the wish for good fortune and are
£20,000 - 30,000 frequently used to decorate objects bearing a double-gourd shape.
CNY180,000 - 260,000 The bottle gourd itself is associated with the Daoist Immortals,
particularly with Li Tieguai who used the gourd as a container for
清乾隆 剔紅纏枝花卉紋「大吉」葫蘆瓶一對 medicine. The pairing of the bottle gourd with the Da Ji characters thus
creates a particularly auspicious object.
Provenance: William Morton Eden, 5th Baron Auckland (1859-1917),
Kitley House, Yealmpton (label) Double-gourd vases of slightly flattened form and inlaid with mother
A French private collection of pearl are quite rare. Compare with a related cinnabar-lacquer
‘double-gourd’ vase, late 18th century, decorated with medallions
來源：英國亞姆頓，凱特利大宅，第五代奧克蘭勳爵William Morton enclosing the Da Ji characters in gilt metal on a blue enamel ground
Eden（1859-1917）（標籤） in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, illustrated by E.F.Strange,
法國私人收藏 Catalogue of Chinese Lacquer, London, 1925, no.33, pl.XV.

See one cinnabar lacquer double-gourd ‘Daji’ vase, 18th century, which
was sold at Christie’s New York, 13-14 September 2012, lot 1298.

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