£17,000
A RARE FAMILLE VERTE RECTANGULAR SHAPED DISH
KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)
康熙五彩“飲中八仙” 圖紋盤
the dish has a square base with the sides shelving outwards and is painted with over glaze enamels in the famille verte palette.
Two of the everted square sides are each painted with a representation of two of the “Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup” – a group of Tang dynasty poets who were also known for their love of alcohol, to the base is the rare provincial mark – Sanzhutang Ji - "The Hall of Three Wishes". The term was first used in a poem by the celebrated Tang poet Du Fu (712-770) who was himself sometimes known as the “ninth poet”. The two representations are of Li Shizhi and He Zhizhang: Li Shizhi (d.747) – was Prime Minister during the later part of the Kaiyan era (712 – 741) and was known as the “ First Minister of the Left” - with a reputation for simplicity. He was forced to retire through intrigue and at a later stage committed suicide. The painting shows Minister Li seated before a screen and drinking a cup of wine whilst an attendant offers him another cup.
He Zhizhang (665 – 744) – was a statesman, poet and calligrapher active during the reign of the Tang Emperor Xuanzong (713 – 756). Here he can be seen riding his horse in a drunken state and being supported by an attendant. In front and to the right of the horse is a well into which - according to an anecdote – he fell into whilst drunk.
The two depictions are divided by panels each decorated with a writhing dragon and both with qilong handles.
7.9cm diam.
PROVENANCE: Acquired from Christie’s, Amsterdam, “Asian Ceramics and Works of Art”, 23 May 2006, Lot 299
EXHIBITED “China of all Colours: Painted Enamels on Copper, Jorge Welch Research and Publishing Lisbon/London 2015, Figure 29.
RELATED EXAMPLES: For a delicately enamelled wine cup depicting a similar scene of He Zhizhang on horseback accompanied by two young servants carrying his belongings see “The Imperial Sale”, Christie's Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, Lot No: 3586.
For a wine cup decorated in under glaze blue with a similar scene of He Zhizhang on horseback, slouched to one side and supported by two attendants - one of which is carrying a food-basket and wine ewer over his shoulder see “Chinese and Japanese Ceramics and Works of Art”, Christie’s Amsterdam, 8 December 1988, Lot No: 283.
One of the dragon handles is a replacement.
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