A RARE YIXING LOTUS WATERDROPPER

Details

A RARE YIXING LOTUS WATERDROPPER
IMPRESSED SEAL MARK OF CHEN MINGYUAN

Finely and realistically modeled as a conjoined lotus bud and pod, the tightly closed bud of reddish-brown color forming the receptacle, with a circular opening on top and a hollowed, cut stalk modeled from yellowish-beige clay at one end, the brown clay pod also hollow and cleverly constructed with eight movable seeds, issuing from a short beige stalk, a small brown clay snail protruding from the underside of the bud to form a support for the vessel (minor chips)
3in. (7.7cm.) across, intricately carved wood stand

Provenance

Stephen Junkunc, III

Lot Essay

Chen Mingyuan, one of the most famous and versatile Yixing potters, was active during the Kangxi/Yongzheng periods (1662-1735). He made not only teapots, but also articles for the scholar's table, many simulating objects from nature, i.e., fruits, nuts, bamboo and vegetables. A brushrest in the form of a prunus branch and a waterpot of lotus leaf form are illustrated by K.S. Lo, The Stonewares of Yixing, New York, 1986, pl. 141 and 143. Two other yixing vessels of naturalistic form bearing the seal of Chen Mingyuan are in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, illustrated in Oriental Ceramics, The World's Great Collections, vol. 10, Tokyo, 1980, pl. 244, a cup in the form of a conch shell and pl. 245, a water vessel in the shape of a lotus petal and pod with loose seeds

For an yixing lotus pod with movable seeds see Jessica Rawson, et al., The British Museum Book of Chinese Art, New York, 1992, p. 247, pl. 184 (left)