Page 23 - Bonhams Asian Art May2016 UK

VARIOUS PROPERTIES

44

A FAMILLE VERTE ‘JOURNEY TO THE
WEST’ DISH
Kangxi
Finely enamelled with a central panel
with story tellers surrounded with foliate
cartouches enclosing scenes from Xiyouji,
reserved on a diaper ground, the rim with
an elaborate border with floral roundels and
varying diaper patterns, the base with an
artemisia leaf motif. 35.2cm (13 7/8in) diam.

£800 - 1,200
CNY7,300 - 11,000
HK$8,800 - 13,000

The decorative scheme on the present dish is 44
unusual as it seems to show a group of story
tellers in the centre surrounded by a series of
narrative panels. 西遊記 xi you ji, or Journey
to the West, is an epic 16th century novel
fictionalizing the actual journey of the historical
figure of Xuanzang (602–664) who made a
pilgrimage to India to collect Buddhist sutras.
During the eventful trip the honest but hapless
Buddhist monk is accompanied by Sun
Wukong, a tempestuous and powerful simian
king recently released from a supernatural
prison, Zhu Bajie, a greedy pig-like demon,
and Sha Wujing, a quiet and sensible river
spirit. The troupe suffer a series of increasingly
dangerous trials but eventually prevail, finally
bringing the true word of Buddha back to the
Tang Imperial court.

45

A LARGE FAMILLE VERTE ‘HUNDRED
BOYS’ BASIN
Kangxi
The well finely enamelled with a scene of
boys at play in a terraced garden amongst
leisured women, the flat rim with quatre-lobed
cartouches enclosing floral sprays and the
attributes of the Four Arts, reserved on a
varying diaper ground.
41cm (in) diam.

£2,000 - 3,000
CNY18,000 - 28,000
HK$22,000 - 33,000

45

ASIAN ART | 21