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Lot Essay
This brush washer comes with a huanghuali box affixed with a plaque inscribed with the name and title Major Genl. James H. Wilson. James Harrison Wilson (September 2, 1837-February 23, 1925) was a United States Army topographic engineer and a Union Army General in the American Civil War. He left the army in 1870, but rejoined in 1898 for the Spanish-American War. In 1900, he formed part of an international expedition to bring relief to foreigners under seige in Beijing.
This type of brush washer is described as of 'gong shape', or tangluo xi, as it has a very compressed body. It belongs to a group of eight vessel shapes known as the ba da ma, Eight Great Numbers, all of which are covered in a peachbloom glaze, and have been thought to have been made especially for the Emperor's writing table. However, John Ayers in the transcript of his lecture, 'The Peachbloom' Wares of the Kangxi period (1662-1722)', TOCS, vol. 64, 1999-2000, pp. 31-50, provides a thorough discussion of peachbloom wares, as well as wares of similar shape with pale celadon and pale blue glazes, suggesting that these wares may have been presented as gifts to members of the court on important court occassions. Similar brush washers have been widely published and are in numerous public and private collections. A number have also been sold at auction, including three in these rooms: 20 September 2005, lot 288; 19 March 2008, lot 636; and 16-17 September 2010, lot 1403.
This type of brush washer is described as of 'gong shape', or tangluo xi, as it has a very compressed body. It belongs to a group of eight vessel shapes known as the ba da ma, Eight Great Numbers, all of which are covered in a peachbloom glaze, and have been thought to have been made especially for the Emperor's writing table. However, John Ayers in the transcript of his lecture, 'The Peachbloom' Wares of the Kangxi period (1662-1722)', TOCS, vol. 64, 1999-2000, pp. 31-50, provides a thorough discussion of peachbloom wares, as well as wares of similar shape with pale celadon and pale blue glazes, suggesting that these wares may have been presented as gifts to members of the court on important court occassions. Similar brush washers have been widely published and are in numerous public and private collections. A number have also been sold at auction, including three in these rooms: 20 September 2005, lot 288; 19 March 2008, lot 636; and 16-17 September 2010, lot 1403.