Page 98 - Christie's Important Chinese Art Nov 3 2020 London

PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE EUROPEAN COLLECTION
82
A LARGE TIBETAN-STYLE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL EWER AND COVER, DUOMUHU
MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY
The tall cylindrical body is divided into four sections by gilded raised bands, each incised with floral
scrolls. Each section is brightly decorated with dragons in pursuit of the flaming pearl. The slender spout
emanates from a gilt-bronze lion head and the sinous handle is formed by a coiled dragon. The cover is
similarly decorated and surmounted by a small gilt-bud finial.
24 3/8 in. (62 cm.) high
£60,000-80,000 US$78,000-100,000
€66,000-88,000
PROVENANCE:
Acquired in Germany before 1989.
LITERATURE:
Dr. Gunhild Gabbert Avitabile, Die Ware aus dem Teufelsland, Chinesische und japanische Cloisonné – und
Champlevé-Arbeiten von 1400 bis 1900, Germany, 1981, cat. no. 59
The form of the duomuhu is relatively rare among cloisonne enamel wares. Two comparable cloisonne
enamel tall ewers from the 17th century are published, one illustrated by H. Brinker and A. Lutz, Chinese
Cloisonne: The Pierre Uldry Collection, Zurich, 1989, pl. 159; and the other, by Dr. G. G. Avitabile, Die Ware
aus dem Teufelsland, Germany, 1981, pl. 59.
The duomuhu shape is derived from a Tibetan prototype, the bey lep, which was used for storing milk
tea in Lamaist monasteries. It has a long history in China beginning in the Yuan dynasty when the
religion first was adopted under Kublai Khan. A qingbai ewer of this form excavated from a Yuan site is
now in the Capital Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Zhongguo Wenwu Jinghua Da Cidian, Ceramics, no.
614. The columnar Tibetan ewer does not appear to have been favoured during the Ming dynasty, even
during reigns when Tibetan Buddhism flourished. However, during the Qing dynasty Kangxi Emperor,
and his renewal of interest in Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism, vessels of this duomu ewer form appeared
in metalwork and in porcelain, usually decorated with enamels. The Tibetan name for this type of vessel
means 'container for butter', but they were also used for milk and wine.

重要歐洲私人珍藏
明十七世紀 掐絲琺瑯龍戲珠紋多穆壺
來源:
於1989年前購自德國
出版:
Gunhild Gabbert Avitabile博士,《Die Ware aus dem Teufelsland, Chinesische und japanische Cloisonné – und Champlevé-
Arbeiten von 1400 bis 1900》德國, 1981年, 編號59

96 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.