Page 232 - J. P Morgan Collection of Chinese Art and Porcelain

CASE XVIl] THE MORGAN COLLECTION

464,465. TWO OVOID EGG-SHELL VASES. The

one has very delicate and rich decoration of numerous

elaborately attired figures. Two ladies seated, one with
her back turned, the other in pale blue. To the right, a

girl in pink, on a dark green seat; behind her a purple
jar and a bamboo cabinet. In the foreground a lady in
a chair, at her knee the head and shoulder of a child.

Beyond a young girl, and to the left of the lady working,
two boys stand in the foreground, one with a black and
gold stand of arrows. The other has just shot an arrow
from a yellow bow, and in front of him, on the floor, lie
three brilliant yellow peaches, each transfixed by an
arrow. The inscription on this beautiful eggshell
vase records the date, the residence and the name of

the studio of the artist decorator, who has attached

his seal below. The date at the beginning is the cyc-
lical year chi yu, which would correspond to A. D.

1729.

A companion vase, but inscribed and sealed by an ar-

tist who writes : " Painted on a winter day at Chu Chiang

in the Chin Shui T'ing" (literally V/aterside Pavilion),

but giving no date. Figures and accessories of a sim-

Ailar character. lady, to her right a child in rose-

tinted jacket; front a slender girl; all three regard

another child, to the right, who recites under the di-
rection of a lady. To the left of the seated lady, in the
foreground, is a child who carries a black-handled white

standard with gold top and pendant white sounding-

stone, and addresses himself to the other child.

Yung-cheng (1723-1735). Height 8 inches.

466. HEXAGONAL LANTERN. Fine egg-shell

porcelain in reticulated and perforated pattern with
medallion reserves bearing delicate floral decoration.

Crenelated top and gilt metal stand.

Ch'ien-lung (1736-1795). Height 15X inches.

(plate xxiv)

92