KANGXI SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND POSSIBLY OF THE PERIOD

Details

AN INSCRIBED UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND COPPER RED-DECORATED BRUSHPOT
KANGXI SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND POSSIBLY OF THE PERIOD
The exterior of the brushpot is intricately inscribed in blue with the text Sheng zhu de xian chen song, 'The Divine Emperor Obtains Worthy Officials', ending with a red seal mark reading xi chao chuan gu, which may be translated as 'passing on antiquity from this glorious reign'. The base bears a six-character reign mark to the recessed centre.
7 ¼ in. (18.5 cm.) diam.

Provenance

Acquired by the vendor’s great, great grandfather in China at the turn of the 20th century, thence by descent within the family.

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Lot Essay

The text Sheng zhu de xian chen song was authored by the Western Han poet Wang Bao (c. 84-53 BCE) for the Han Emperor Xuan (74-49 BCE), in praise of the Emperor's obtainment of able ministers. Compare the present lot to a brushpot with the same inscription which was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 28 November 1978, lot 269, then later included in Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Ceramics at the Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and illustrated in the Catalogue, Hong Kong, 1981, no. 112. Another similar brushpot was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 November 1982, lot 170; then again at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 3 October 2018, lot 141.

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