A LARGE BLUE AND WHITE CISTERN AND COVER

FIRST HALF 18TH CENTURY

Details

A LARGE BLUE AND WHITE CISTERN AND COVER
FIRST HALF 18TH CENTURY
Of architectural outline with a large biscuit Buddhist lion knop seated on top of the pagoda roof cover and applied spandrels at the corners, painted on the front in tones of cobalt blue and gilt with a detailed Chinese landscape showing scholars in mountain villas or playing at table games outdoors, other figures on bridges and small boats sailing by, the sides with a pair of mythical beast-head and fixed ring handles, one painted with a pair of nuzzling deer and the other with two playful ponies, mounted with metal serpent head spigot and the back with two holes for hanging and a pierced cash medallion
24 in. (60.9 cm.) high (2)

Provenance

with The Art Exchange, New York
The Benjamin F. Edwards III Collection

Literature

G.A. Godden, Oriental Export Market Porcelain, London, 1979, p. 133, where the author describes it as 'A superb Chinese covered cistern' and calls it one of 'Certain ornate objects...made in small numbers, mainly for the Continental markets' (p. 138).

Lot Essay

After a Western wall fountain prototype, this form was used in the dining room for serving red wine at room temperature and/or for ablutions. Very similar models but with varying underglaze blue decoration have been sold Christie's, New York, 24 January 1997, lot 24 and Christie's, London, 16 November 1998, lot 450. For another example of this form, also from the Benjamin F. Edwards Collection, see Christie's, New York, 22 January 2003, lot 128.

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