A RARE POLYCHROME FISH BOWL

WANLI SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE IN A LINE AND OF THE PERIOD

細節

A RARE POLYCHROME FISH BOWL
Wanli Six-Character Mark in Underglaze Blue in a Line and of the Period
The deep, thickly potted sides well painted in inky underglaze blue with two spirited five-clawed dragons striding towards clumps of lotus plants amidst yellow-glazed sprigs of lingzhi fungus, green-glazed water weeds and scattered blossoms with trailing stems, all above a lotus pond with rippling waves separated by wind-tossed green froth, the nianhao written in a line on the molded mouth rim
21.5/8in. (55cm.) diam.

拍品專文

A polychrome fish bowl of this shape also painted with blue dragons depicted, however, amidst meandering yellow-glazed lingzhi scroll rather than a lotus pond, in the Percival David Collection, was included in the International Exhibition of Chinese Art, London, 1935-36, Catalogue, no. 1827; and another of slightly smaller size and more flared shape, but with a very similar combination of colors and motifs was illustrated in the exhibition Catalogue, As You Wish, Symbol and Meaning on Chinese Porcelains from the Taft Museum, China Institute Gallery, New York, 23 October 1993 - 15 January 1994, no. 8. The author, D. T. Johnson states, that 'The dragons on the basin, which represent the emperor, are pursuing large yellow sprigs of the fungus of immortality (lingzhi) and the lotus plants symbolize harmony. The entire image conveys the wish for good fortune for the empire.'

Other examples of polychrome fish bowls of this type with a Wanli mark are in the Porzellansammlung, Dresden, included in the exhibition, Schtze Chinas aus Museem der DDR, Roemerund Pelizaeus-Museum, Hildesheim, 1990, illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 140; and one in Cologne, partially illustrated in a room shot in the handbook of the Museum fr Ostasiatische Kunst Kln, Munich, 1995, Catalogue, pp. 8 and 9. Compare, also, the massive fish bowl from the Edward T. Chow Collection, sold Sotheby's Hong Kong, 19 May 1981, lot 438.