A FINE AND LARGE KANGXI FAMILLE VERTE BITONG KANGXI PERIOD ...

Hammer

£83,000

A FINE AND LARGE KANGXI FAMILLE VERTE BITONG
KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)
康熙五彩“太公釣魚”圖紋筆筒
the landscape scene depicts the reclusive sage Taigong Wang, who sits fishing on the banks of the Wei River. To his left he is approached by King Wen of Zhou accompanied by a retinue of bannermen and warriors.
15.1cm high, 17.8cm diam. 

NOTE: Taigong Wang was a military strategist who served during the Shang dynasty and who eventually feigned madness in order to escape the tyranny of its last ruler, King Zhou of Shang. From that time he lived contentedly in rural retreat – daily fishing on the Wei River with a pole that reputedly only held a straight hook. It was said that only serious fishermen were depicted fishing with nets as the scholar fisherman only wished to catch an invitation to serve as a high official.

King Wen of Zhou sought out Taigong Wang in order to ask him to be his Prime Minister and thus play a crucial role in the overthrow of the corrupt Shang dynasty. The conversation between the two supposedly forms the "Six Secret Teachings" - which is regarded as one of the Seven Military Classics of China. 

PROVENANCE: Acquired from Cheffins, Cambridge, September 23 2007, Lot 209. 

RELATED EXAMPLE: Another version of this scene can be found on an under glaze blue and copper-red decorated bitong in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated by Chen Runmin in “Selected Chinese Ceramics from the Palace Museum – Volume 1: Blue and White Ceramics in Shunzhi and Kangxi Periods – Qing Shunzhi Kangxi chao qing hua”, Page 344, No 222. For a Kangxi Blue and White Rectangular Tile showing the same image see “ An Era of Inspiration: 17th Century Chinese Porcelains from the Collection of Julia and John Curtis”, Christie’s New York, 16th March 2015, Lot 3590.

More Information

With a shallow rim repair of approximately 1 cm along with a tiny area of enamel flaking.