A PAIR OF FAMILLE ROSE SOLDIER VASES AND COVERS

MID-18TH CENTURY

Details

A PAIR OF FAMILLE ROSE SOLDIER VASES AND COVERS
MID-18TH CENTURY
Of baluster form with domed covers surmounted by colorful Buddhist lion knops, richly enamelled around the sides with a plethora of birds in a lavishly blooming garden, including a crane and a phoenix who stand beside each other on jagged rocks, each with head turned to gaze at the other, smaller birds hovering amidst prunus blossoms and pairs of Mandarin ducks swimming in a lotus pond alongside, all beneath a wide border of pattern-filled lappets around the shoulders below a bright blue-ground collar interrupted by grisaille landscape vignettes, lush peony blooms on the neck and the cover with border to match
52 in. (132 cm.) high (4)

Lot Essay

Massive vases of this type are referred to as 'soldier' or 'dragoon' vases after the story of Frederick Augustus I (1670-1733), Elector of Saxony, King of Poland, avid collector of Asian porcelain and a founder of the Meissen factory, trading a regiment of soldiers for a collection of them. Following the more straight-sided blue and white model of the earlier 18th century that probably comprised his group, the magnificent form evolved into this shape and continued to be made in the newer enamel colors. In both size and quality of painting they typically represent a tour-de-force of the potter's art.

A similar pair is illustrated by A. du Boulay, Christie's Pictorial History of Chinese Ceramics, p. 250, and was sold Christie's London, 28 July 1975, lot 181, and again 10 June 1996, lot 135. Another pair was sold Christie's New York, 21 January 1999, lot 122.

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