Page 78 - 2018 Hong Kong Important Chieese Art

fig. 1
Famille-rose turquoise-ground ‘lotus’ vase with ruyi handles,
seal mark and period of Qianlong
© Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei
圖一
清乾隆 粉彩綠地勾蓮紋如意耳瓶 《大清乾隆年製》款
© 台北國立故宮博物院藏品

from the Qing Court] records that on the 10th day of the of Western origin, in its shape and decoration the vase is a
first lunar month, in the 13th year of Qianlong’s reign (1748), Chinese masterpiece. Although we can only speculate on the
the Aide and the Chief Commissioner of the Seventh Grade, reasons for its production, nevertheless, the use of the colour
Samuha, reported that the Eunuch Hu Shijie delivered a pair blue combined with the painting of the lotus scrollwork as
of blue-ground yangcai vases painted with gilt floral design. the primary decoration, along with the employment of ruyi-
These vases were made to be placed in one of the Buddha shaped handles and the wan symbol attached by red ribbons
Halls (fotang) in the grounds of the Forbidden City. On the 19th all convey an auspicious message. The ‘hidden’ meaning in the
day of the 10th month of the same year another pair of blue- decoration celebrates the emperor’s appreciation of qualities
ground yangcai vases with gilt floral decoration and matching of purity and integrity known in Chinese as qinglian, which
wooden stands were handed to the Eunuch Hu Shijie, for is a homophone for qinglian meaning ‘blue lotus’. The term
submission to the emperor. Accounts for the 18th day of the appears in the Dongguan Han ji [Han Records of the Eastern
15th year of Qianlong’s reign (1750) record that the Treasurer Lodge], compiled by a team of historiographers under the
Da Zi reported that Eunuch Hu Shijie delivered a pair of blue- guidance of Ban Gu (AD 32-92) in the Eastern Han dynasty
ground yangcai vases with matching stands for presentation (AD 25-220). In the ‘Biography of Zhou Ze (Zhou Ze zhuan)’
to the emperor (fig. 3). From these records it is evident we read, ‘[Zhou Ye] paid his [deep] respect to the Minister
3
that blue-ground yangcai vases were produced on imperial of Ceremonies, [he was] resolute and daring, and on several
order during a short period of only a few years, primarily [occasions] he spoke bluntly. The court was delighted with
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between 1748-1750, and only three pairs of vases appear to his honesty and integrity.’ The colour blue is also associated
be recorded, all submitted by the Eunuch Hu Shijie. While we with scholars and learning. The ‘Chapter on Learning (Quan
know little about Hu Shijie, his name appears frequently in the xue)’ in the Xunzi, attributed to the Confucian philosopher
imperial records, suggesting that he was a trusted member of Xun Kuang (c.310-c.235 BC, alt. c.314-c.217 BC), records the
the emperor’s inner circle and played a key role in handing out gentleman saying, ‘[The pigment] blue is obtained from the
imperial decrees and supervising and delivering artefacts to indigo plant, but it is bluer than the plant itself’. This phrase
the emperor. advises that through the act of learning it is possible to elevate
oneself and become even better than the master. Qianlong
5
While the technique and palate for the present vase may be

76 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比