拍品专文
While this stem cups employs decorative elements found on other blue and white wares, no stem cup with lotus and fish in this style seems to be recorded.
Cf. a slightly larger stem cup of similar shape with very similar aquatic plants, although without fish, illustrated by Joseph in Ming Porcelains, no.44 and dated late 15th century. Another with aquatic plants below a related patterned border and dated second half of the 15th century, probably Chenghua, is illustrated by Goldschmidt, La Porcelaine Ming, no. 69.
Elements of the design can be related to Chenghua period wares such as the treatment of the flower-heads on the interior which are similar to those found on the Chenghua mark and period 'dragon' bowl in the Shanghai Museum and illustrated in Underglaze Blue and Red, no. 81. Technically the style of painting was also pioneered in the Chenghua period using, as Addis explains in Chinese Porcelain from the Addis Collection, p. 50-51, "thin graded washes of light colour within wiry outlines".
The painting of the fish can be compared to that on blue and white vessels illustrated by Pope, Chinese Porcelains in the Ardebil Shrine, pls. 64 and 68, and also dated late 15th century.
The stem cup appears to fall into the same group that display the "drawing in outline and delicate blue washes". The author argues for a late 15th century dating while not excluding the possibility that they may be Hongzhi period.
Cf. a slightly larger stem cup of similar shape with very similar aquatic plants, although without fish, illustrated by Joseph in Ming Porcelains, no.44 and dated late 15th century. Another with aquatic plants below a related patterned border and dated second half of the 15th century, probably Chenghua, is illustrated by Goldschmidt, La Porcelaine Ming, no. 69.
Elements of the design can be related to Chenghua period wares such as the treatment of the flower-heads on the interior which are similar to those found on the Chenghua mark and period 'dragon' bowl in the Shanghai Museum and illustrated in Underglaze Blue and Red, no. 81. Technically the style of painting was also pioneered in the Chenghua period using, as Addis explains in Chinese Porcelain from the Addis Collection, p. 50-51, "thin graded washes of light colour within wiry outlines".
The painting of the fish can be compared to that on blue and white vessels illustrated by Pope, Chinese Porcelains in the Ardebil Shrine, pls. 64 and 68, and also dated late 15th century.
The stem cup appears to fall into the same group that display the "drawing in outline and delicate blue washes". The author argues for a late 15th century dating while not excluding the possibility that they may be Hongzhi period.