Pair of extremely rare Chinese wucai ovoid jars and covers, Shunzhi (1644-1661)
Pair of extremely rare Chinese wucai ovoid jars and covers, Shunzhi (1644-1661)
POA
Description
Pair of extremely rare Chinese wucai ovoid jars and covers, Shunzhi (1644-1661), the pear-shaped bodies decorated in coloured enamels and underglaze cobalt blue with scholars in flowing robes reclining against ceramic vases and drinking wine served by attendants in a rocky garden setting with pine trees and plantain, potted chrysanthemum and scholarly accoutrements including a guzheng and sections of a weiqi board; inscribed with two lines reading 西風索莫九秋餘已到重陽菊米舒 (‘the solemn western winds have continued for more than nine autumns/ it is already Chongyang, with abundance of chrysanthemum and rice’); the rims with bands of blue scrolling pattern
Dimensions:
Height: 17 cm (6 3/4in.)
Condition:
Condition: One jar in 3 pieces with rivet holes and a haircrack, the other with 8cm. hair crack from rim and chip to base approx 2cm. x 0.5cm., one cover with a chip to knop and the other cover broken in 3 pieces with rivet holess and missing chip to knop - all restored to a very high standard.
Notes:
The 'Tonying' label on the base ‘Tonying’ refers to C. T. Loo’s shop in Paris. For the rare shape of the jar see National Palace Museum (2007). The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colours, p.140
Chongyang is a Chinese festival dating from the Eastern Han (25-220 AD) celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, and is thus also known as the ‘Double Ninth’ festival. The legend upon which Chongyang is based tells of a young man called Hengling who vanquished an evil spirit inhabiting the Nu River and causing a terrible sickness in the local village. He did this by distributing chrysanthemum and dogwood among the villagers before leading them up a mountain. Enticed by the smell of chrysanthemum and dogwood, the demon emerged from the river and was defeated by Hengling in combat. Consequently Chongyang customs in China include chrysanthemum viewing, mountain climbing and drinking chrysanthemum wine with family and friends. As the word for ‘nine’ is a homophone for ‘long’, the day is also associated with longevity, and was designated an official seniors' day in 1989.
| item details | |
|---|---|
| Material and Technique | Porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze enamel decoration |
| Origin | Chinese |
| Period | 17th Century |
| Dimensions | Height: 17 cm (6 3/4in.) |
Product REF: W597
