Page 118 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art London Nov. 2019

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A BLUE AND WHITE ‘KRAAK A RARE BLUE AND WHITE ‘MAGIC The Jiajing emperor was so concerned with
PORCELAIN’ LOBED BOWL FOUNTAIN’ EWER immortality that many decorative motifs
Circa 1585-1600 Changsheng bulao four-character mark, were associated with longevity. The precise
Painted to the interior of the deep U-shaped Jiajing meaning and origins of these fountains are
lobed body with a medallion enclosing a Of compressed globular form with a long unclear, but the motif appears to evoke the
lakeside landscape, encircled by ten cakra waisted neck below a galleried rim, painted in wish of extending life, or living forever. This
and a continuous landscape band, the vivid tones of blue on each side of the body theme is carried on by the mark on the base
exterior with composite floral sprays beneath with an elaborate water fountain surmounted reading ‘chang sheng bu lao’, which can be
a broad flying horse band at the foliate rim, by a cross and supported by a mythical qilin, translated as ‘live forever and never become
all supported on a short straight foot, maker’s the neck with upright plantain leaves, the old’, implying almost that to drink from this
mark on the base. elegantly curved spout issuing from a mythical ewer would extend one’s own life.
21.6cm (8 1/2in) diam. beast-head and arched strap-handle further
decorated with writhing dragons amidst floral These ewers also found their way to Europe
£3,000 - 5,000 scrolls, fitted box. where they were appreciated for their
CNY27,000 - 44,000 33cm (13in) high. (2). exoticism. An oil painting in the Museo
Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, by
約1585-1600年 青花克拉克瓷大盌 £22,000 - 28,000 Willem Kalf, circa 1660, depicts a still life with
a very similar blue and white ewer with the
青花「富貴佳器」款 CNY190,000 - 250,000 same motif (ac.no.1981.77).

Provenance: a European private collection 明嘉靖 青花噴泉麒麟紋執壺 A related blue and white ewer with similar
青花「長生不老」楷書款 motif, Xuande six-character mark, 16th
來源：歐洲私人收藏 century, is illustrated by J.Pope, Chinese
Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine, London,
For a very similar silver-gilt mounted bowl, 1981, pl.99. Another similar blue and white
known as ‘The Walsingham Bowl’, see ewer with the same motif is in the Victoria and
J.Carswell, Blue and White: Chinese Porcelain Albert Museum, London (acc.no.C.105-1928).
Around the World, London, 2000, no.165,
where the author notes that by tradition the bowl Compare with a related blue and white ewer
was given by Queen Elizabeth to her godchild with similar motif, Jiajing, which was sold at
Sir Thomas Walsingham; and for another, see Sotheby’s London, 5 November 2014, lot 318.
M.Rinaldi, Kraak Porcelain: A Moment in the
History of Trade, London, 1989, pl.168.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
116 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.