Bonhams 1793 : A blue and white globular long-necked vase Mid 17th century

Mid 17th century
Amusingly painted around the compressed body with a herdsman and two large lumbering water buffalo awaiting the arrival of an elegant dignitary holding a rolled scroll accompanied by five bannermen and servants with a palanquin, the scene presumably derived from a late Ming romance, the neck with two bands of upright tulip-like flowers. 35cm (13¾in) high

Sold for £13,750 inc. premium

Footnotes

Provenance: a Belgian private collection

十七世紀中期青花人物故事圖長頸瓶

來源: 比利時私人收藏

This type of globular vase, with a long neck featuring a bulbous middle, was made in China only during the High Transitional period, in direct imitation of sixteenth century Turkish faience and specifically for the Dutch export market. In particular, the tulips on the neck imitate the Iznik style, and cater to the mania for tulips current in Holland at the time.

Scenes with buffalo and dignitaries were popular on High Transitional wares: see for example similar scenes on vases illustrated by Sir Michael Butler, Seventeenth Century Porcelain from the Butler Family Collection, Alexandria, 1990, pl.39 and 99.