Page 60 - Christie's Important Chinese Art Nov 3 2020 London

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE ENGLISH COLLECTION
Christie’s is delighted to present this rare ‘pheasant’ bowl that has been
passed down through five generations of the Cox family. The bowl was
originally acquired by Edward Cox (1850-1915) of Cardean, Meigle, Scotland,
who graduated from Edinburgh University and acted as President of the
Dundee Chamber of Commerce and a Governor of Dundee College between
1890 and 1891. He became a Chairman of Camperdown Jute Works following
its conversion into a Limited Liability Company in 1893, and also became
a Director of the Scottish American Trust Companies and the Northern
American Trust Co. Ltd, becoming Chairman in 1895. Apart from his business
pursuits, he built up an art collection in Cardean and was known for his fine
taste and scholarly interest in the subject. As administrator of the will of
his uncle Thomas Cox, he not only formed a bequest to set up a free public
library and baths in Lochee, but also purchased the AC Lamb Collection of old
Dundee literature and pictures, presenting it to the Free Library in 1900. He
was a Deputy-Lieutenant for the County of the City of Dundee and a Justice of
the Peace for Dundee.

Edward Cox (1850-1915)

39
A RARE DOUCAI 'PHEASANT' BOWL
KANGXI SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN
DOUBLE CIRCLES AND OF THE PERIOD (1662-1722)

The sturdily potted bowl is elaborately decorated on one side of the exterior 英國私人珍藏
with two pheasants perched on rocks, surrounded by branches of peony and
magnolia. Two smaller birds in flight are depicted to the other side. 清康熙 鬥彩雉雞牡丹紋碗 雙圈六字楷書款
6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm) diam. 來源:
蘇格蘭 Edward Cox先生(1850-1915)舊藏, 家傳至今
£30,000-50,000 US$39,000-63,000
€33,000-54,000
PROVENANCE:
Collection of Edward Cox (1850-1915) of Cardean, Meigle, Scotland, thence by
descent within the family.
The combination of magnolia and peony represents the auspicious saying 'yu
tang fu gui', meaning 'may you have wealth, honour and prosperity'. A similar
Kangxi mark and period example with the same design but additionally
decorated with iron-red as well as copper-red is in the collection of the
Beijing Palace Museum, illustrated by Geng Baochang in Gugong Bowuyuan
cang Qingdai yuyao ciqi, Beijing, 2005, vol. I part I, pl. 29. A later pair of
Yongzheng mark and period bowls were sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 27
October 1972, lot 128.
(mark)

58 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.