A magnificent and extremely rare famille rose 'dragon' vase
Qianlong seal mark
Of massively constructed form, the sumptuous globular body supported on a high splayed foot, the gently rounded shoulders surmounted by an elegant neck rising to a 'garlic' mouth, flanked at the neck by elaborate dragon handles painted in iron-red and gilt enamels, the neck enamelled with iron-red bats amidst luxuriant lotus flowers and lotus scroll on a pale turquoise ground, the design repeated on the foot, the main body vividly enamelled with two five-clawed dragons depicted flying amidst stylised cloud scroll, the larger dragon brilliantly enamelled in iron-red, depicted gazing intently at the smaller dragon, brilliantly enamelled in puce, the turquoise-glazed base inscribed with an iron-red six-character seal mark.
53.5cm high.
Of massively constructed form, the sumptuous globular body supported on a high splayed foot, the gently rounded shoulders surmounted by an elegant neck rising to a 'garlic' mouth, flanked at the neck by elaborate dragon handles painted in iron-red and gilt enamels, the neck enamelled with iron-red bats amidst luxuriant lotus flowers and lotus scroll on a pale turquoise ground, the design repeated on the foot, the main body vividly enamelled with two five-clawed dragons depicted flying amidst stylised cloud scroll, the larger dragon brilliantly enamelled in iron-red, depicted gazing intently at the smaller dragon, brilliantly enamelled in puce, the turquoise-glazed base inscribed with an iron-red six-character seal mark.
53.5cm high.
Sold for
HK$ 18,580,000
inc. premium
Footnotes
- 清 乾隆款 粉彩雲紋「蒼龍教子」雙螭耳瓶
Provenance 來源:
Nathan Bentz and Co., San Francisco
Illustrated 出版:
The San Francisco Examiner, July 12, 1964, (Pictorial Living supplement p.13)
'Dragon' vases of this imposing size and high quality enamelled design are extremely rare, and only a small number is preserved in museum and private collections. The motif on the current vase, of an adult and younger dragon, appears only to be found on one other published vase, a lantern-form vase from the Huaihaitang Collection, illustrated in Ethereal Elegance. Porcelain Vases of the Imperial Qing. The Huaihaitang Collection), Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007, p.346, pl. 123, and illustrated on the cover (fig.1).
The near identical motif as on the current vase is described as 'an adult dragon in the presence of a young counterpart', which is said to 'convey the message of the father teaching his son the way of life...the emperor giving lessons to the prince.'
Compare also another extremely rare Qianlong-reign marked famille-rose vase of identical size and shape in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (Henry L. Florence Bequest, C.1197-1917), enamelled with a scene of boys engaged in leisurely pursuits, illustrated in Arts of Asia, Hong Kong, Nov-Dec 2011, p. 107 pl. 31 (fig.2).
Puce-enamel is reserved for the highest quality decoration on Qianlong reign-marked vases. The intricate enamelling of the younger dragon is reminiscent of the decoration of phoenix on a moonflask from the Shorenstein collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1 December 2010, lot 2968; and of the decoration of a pair of five-clawed dragons depicted in pursuit of a flaming pearl, on a moonflask from the W.W. Jacobs collection, sold in our London rooms, 13 June 2002, lot 136.
Lot heading
Property from the Collection of J. Lester Jervis
Category: Asian Art / Chinese Works of Art
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