Page 71 - Davies Collection of Chinese Porcelain
P. 71
1 87- Pair of vases with oviform bodies and straight necks, decorated with figures
of ladies seated in a boat riding upon the waves, on the shore are numerous gentlemen
and courtiers; above is seen the figure of the god of life with his fly whisk, and at
his back a demon. On the reverse of the vase are large rocks and pine trees. On
the neck is the scene of a lake with mountains in the distance; the shoulder has a
band of brocade design pencilled in black on pale green with hawthorn blossoms in
rouge-de-fer, intersected with small reserves of bamboo foliage in black on white;
this band has margins of yellow lined with black. The whole exquisitely drawn and
finely enamelled in famille-verte on white. Kang-He period. Height 1 8^ inches.
1 88. Square-shaped vase tapering towards the foot, which is curved; the shoulder
sloping and the neck beaker-shaped. On the body of the vase are large figures of
deities in high relief with boy attendants above the deity in two of the panels is an
;
inscribed poem by the Emperor, terminating with the seals of the artist and author.
On the shoulder and foot is a brocade design, the former having figures of dragons
with bifurcated tails, flowers, and foliage, the latter large hawthorn blossoms and
foliage, both on a rich seeded green ground. On the neck are altar utensils in high
relief supported on small tables. All richly enamelled in fine famille-verte colours
on a white ground. Early Kang-He period. Height 1 8 inches.
189. Pair of cylindrical vases slightly diff^ering in treatment. The background of
each is a representation of difi^erent brocades. In one there are formal flowers in
various colours on white, whilst the other has chrysanthemum blossoms in aubergine,
and scroll foliage in dark green on a pale green background. On this vase there are
two large panels and four reserves, the former containing rocky landscapes with view
of a lake and trees in various brilliant greens and aubergine on a semi-biscuit ground.
Of the smaller reserves two are circular and show the sacred carp rising from the
waves, enamelled blue and green on a yellow ground; the other two have sacred
emblems and altar utensils in yellow, green, blue, and black on a delicate aubergine
ground. At the bottom is a band of archaic design in black and green, whilst
surrounding the foot is a trellis pattern border in blue on white; this band repeated
on the shoulder, below which is another of Grecian key design pencilled in black on
green. The neck similarly treated to the body of the vase.
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