Lot Essay
Zhong Kui was one of the most popular mythological subjects in China. According to legend, Zhong Kui traveled with Du Ping, a friend from his hometown, to take part in the Imperial examinations at the capital. Though Zhong achieved top honors in the exams, his title was stripped by the Emperor because of his disfigured appearance. In anger, Zhong Kui committed suicide upon the palace steps by hurling himself against the palace gate until his head was broken. Du Ping then buried him. After Zhong became king of ghosts in Hell, he repaid Du's kindness by giving him his younger sister's hand in marriage.
His popularity can be traced to the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, where he is said to have appeared to the Emperor in a dream, promising to protect the Emperor from demons. Upon Zhong Kui's success, the Emperor ordered the famous painter, Wu Daozi, to paint his dream, and had the image of the demon-queller reproduced and distributed all over the realm to ward off evil spirits.
Porcelain snuff bottles were often made in sets where the same subject was repeated ten or twenty times. Other sets seem to have consisted of bottles of the same shape, but with different decoration on each, which would explain the rarity of certain designs, including this one.
His popularity can be traced to the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, where he is said to have appeared to the Emperor in a dream, promising to protect the Emperor from demons. Upon Zhong Kui's success, the Emperor ordered the famous painter, Wu Daozi, to paint his dream, and had the image of the demon-queller reproduced and distributed all over the realm to ward off evil spirits.
Porcelain snuff bottles were often made in sets where the same subject was repeated ten or twenty times. Other sets seem to have consisted of bottles of the same shape, but with different decoration on each, which would explain the rarity of certain designs, including this one.