Bonhams 1793 : A fine famille rose rectangular plaque Republic Period, seal marks Wang shi and Xiaotang

Republic Period, seal marks Wang shi and Xiaotang
Brightly enamelled in coral-red, purple, blue, pink, gilt, green and grisaille with a scene of the 'Three Heroes of the Wind and Dust', depicting Hong Fu Nü, Li Jing and Qiu Ran Ke with a donkey, greeting each other under a tree within mountains, wood stand. 43.5cm x 24.3cm (17in x 9½in) (2).

Sold for £51,650 inc. premium

Footnotes

民國粉彩「風塵三俠」圖瓷板

印文: 汪氏、曉棠

For an interesting discussion of porcelain produced during the short period from December 1915 to February 1916 when General Yuan Shikai adopted the reign title Hongxian in an attempt to restore the monarchy to China, see the article by S.Kwan, 'Hongxian Porcelain and the Role of Wang Xiaotang', published in Orientations, October, 1991, pp.65-70. In particular, the author notes that a batch of Hongxian-marked porcelain wares most likely was indeed produced for Yuan Shikai. Wang Xiaotang (1885-1924) was a famous porcelain painter who excelled at the depiction of figures, and rose to become an assistant director of the Jingdezhen Ceramics Research Institute in 1924. He was at the peak of his painting career during the Hongxian period, and thus it is very likely that he would be employed on any Imperial commission.