A FAMILLE VERTE ‘SCHOLAR AND ATTENDANT’ PORCELAIN BALUSTER VASE, c. 1920s A FAMILLE VERTE ‘SCHOLAR AND ATTENDANT’ PORCELAIN BALUSTER VASE, c. 1920s China, late Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) to Republic period (1912-1949) Of tapering form, supported on a circular foot with a recessed base and rising to a tall neck with a flaring mouth, finely painted to the exterior in shades of iron-red, green, and aubergine, depicting a scholar looking curiously in the distance, his attendant hides behind the folds of his voluminous robes looking over his shoulder, all set within a pavilion in a mountainous landscape. Provenance: Holzapfel collection, Geneva, Switzerland. This lot was acquired by second generation members of the Holzapfel family after 1970 and has remained in the family ever since. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and firing flaws. Weight: 312.1 g Dimensions: Height 19.8 cm

Estimate 150 - 300 EUR

Starting price 150 EUR

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vienna, Austria

Galerie Zacke
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A BLUE AND WHITE BALUSTER PORCELAIN VASE AND COVER, KANGXI MARK AND PERIOD A BLUE AND WHITE BALUSTER PORCELAIN VASE AND COVER, KANGXI MARK AND PERIOD China, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Of baluster form, the body painted in cobalt blue depicting a continuous mountain and river landscape with pavilions and scholars, one crossing a bridge on a horse with his attendant, the other four in deep discussion standing among pavilions. The neck, shoulder and foot decorated with branches of peaches, prunus, and peonies. The cover domed with a Buddhist lion finial and painted with prunus blossoms and peaches. The recessed base with a four-character Kangxi mark (in sino-japanese writing). Condition: Shows wear, manufacturing flaws including pitting and dark spots, the body with a hairline and kintsugi repair, the cover with kintsugi repairs to the rim. Provenance: German private collection. Weight: 195.3 g Dimensions: Height 36.7 cm

Lot 1959

Estim. 250 - 500 EUR

A LARGE FAMILLE-VERTE ‘KUI XING’ BRUSHPOT, BITONG A LARGE FAMILLE-VERTE ‘KUI XING’ BRUSHPOT, BITONG Expert’s note: The figures depicted in this brushpot are both scholarly and immortal in their appearance. The standing scholar holding a scroll represents Wenchang Wang, the God of Literature. The elderly man riding the mule depicts Zhang Guolao, whose epithet ‘Lao’ added at the end of his name means ‘old’, and who is often shown riding a donkey or mule. The two attendants holding a lotus flower (‘he’) and box (‘he’) are the Hehe Erxian, typically depicted as boys. The true star in this scene, however, is Kui Xing standing in characteristic pose within a cloud emanating from Zhang Guolao’s head, perhaps mentioned by the elderly scholar in conversation to his colleague, thereby revealing the significance and meaning that this brush pot once had for its original owner. China, Qing dynasty or later. Well potted with gently waisted sides, the exterior painted in bright enamels with gilt highlights to depict two scholars engaged in conversation, one standing and holding a large scroll, his attendant carrying a sack filled with scrolls, the other riding a mule and holding a ruyi scepter, a cloud emanating from his head enclosing Kui Xing, all within a verdant mountainous landscape with gnarled trees, craggy rockwork, and wispy clouds. Provenance: Dutch trade. Condition: Good condition with expected old wear and firing irregularities, including pitting, glaze recesses, firing cracks, and dark spots. Few shallow chips and fritting to the rim. Weight: 2,081 g Dimensions: Diameter 18.9 cm Identified by the writing brush held in his right hand and his iconic 'back-kick' posture, Kui Xing (‘Chief Star’) is a Daoist deity worshipped to obtain academic success. It therefore was auspicious for a scholar to have an item decorated with this figure on his desk, to inspire him in his writing and achievement of examination success. The Chinese character ‘Kui’ is composed of the ideographs for ‘demon’ and ‘ladle’ (or ‘dipper’, as Kui Xing is also associated with the North Star). Kui Xing is often portrayed with a demonic appearance, a hideous face, a horn-like protuberance on his head, and a sinewy body. According to legend, he was once a mortal scholar with outstanding literary skills but was repeatedly failed in the civil service examinations due to his repulsive appearance. Out of frustration and humiliation, Kui Xing threw himself into a river, where he was saved by a mythical beast called ao. He then ascended to the Big Dipper and became the stellar patron of the literati and the God of Literature. Dreaming of Kui Xing the night before the exams was considered an auspicious sign. The candidate who obtained the highest results, known as the First Scholar (zhangyuan), would walk first on a staircase decorated with the ao. Representations of Kui Xing are thus a symbol of literary success and highest achievement at the Imperial examinations. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 30 March 2005, lot 399 Price: USD 10,200 or approx. EUR 15,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A famille verte brushpot, bitong, 18 th/19 th century Expert remark: Compare the closely decoration and manner of painting with similar sparse surroundings and blue enamel as well as the related size (17.7 cm). Note that considering recent findings, this brush pot more likely dates to the 19 th than the 18 th century. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 17 March 2009, lot 108 Price: USD 20,000 or approx. EUR 26,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A large ‘famille-verte’ brushpot, Kangxi period Expert remark: Compare the related decoration and manner of painting with similar gilt highlights. Note that this bitong dates from an earlier period than the present lot.

Lot 1974

Estim. 250 - 500 EUR

† A DOUCAI ‘SCHOLAR AND ATTENDANT’ PORCELAIN WINE CUP, c. 1920s † A DOUCAI ‘SCHOLAR AND ATTENDANT’ PORCELAIN WINE CUP, c. 1920s China, late Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) to Republic period (1912-1949). Finely potted, of bell shape, painted in underglaze blue, yellow, green, aubergine enamels, and iron-red, depicting a continuous scene with a scholar on a horse joined by his attendant who carries a staff and points in the opposite direction. The recessed base with an apocryphal six-character Kangxi reign mark in underglaze blue. Provenance: British private collection. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. Weight: 37.8 g Dimensions: Height 5.1 cm 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.

Lot 2008

Estim. 400 - 800 EUR

A FAMILLE ROSE 'SCHOLARS' VASE, SHENDETANG ZHI MARK, REPUBLIC PERIOD A FAMILLE ROSE 'SCHOLARS' VASE, SHENDETANG ZHI MARK, REPUBLIC PERIOD China, first half of the 20th century. The ovoid body rising from a spreading foot to a broad neck with an everted gilt rim. Finely painted in bright enamels with gilt highlights to depict scholars playing a boardgame on a rocky platform further set with precious objects, comprising two stacked boxes, scrolls in a burlwood scroll pot, as well as coral and a bamboo rod in a blue and white pear-shaped vase. The men look on as an attendant fans them, all three looking toward Chang'e, the goddess of the moon, cradling her lunar hare, with her attendant not far behind, all under a gnarled towering pine tree. Inscriptions: The base with an iron-red four-character hall mark, Shendetang zhi (Hall of the Prudent Virtue). Provenance: From a private collection in Moray, Scotland, and thence by descent in the family. Condition: Good condition with minor wear and firing irregularities, little rubbing to the gilt and enamels, and few small chips to the rim. Weight: 3,787 g Dimensions: Height 40.8 cm Shendetang (Hall of Prudent Virtue) is a hall mark associated with a range of fine porcelains made for the Hall of Prudent Virtue, a summer residence of Emperor Daoguang. The Daoguang Emperor was known as a prudent, kind, and frugal ruler; however, one area he chose to invest heavily was the Yuanmingyuan. The financial review of the Yuanmingyuan in 1824 showed a significant surplus; thus, the ample money available allowed Daoguang to construct the Shendetang, the new living quarters, in 1830, which were completed in 1831. The Hall featured three connecting wave roofs on a square-shaped structure, hence showing a distinct character that was markedly different from the more rigid Confucian-inspired architecture. The greater degree of freedom in arrangement and design reflects the style of porcelain that was lavishly produced for the Hall. Daoguang pieces inscribed with the Shendetang mark are attributable to the two decades between 1831 and 1850 and are often characterized by novel designs. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 21 June 2011, lot 8370 Price: USD 6,100 or approx. EUR 7,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A pair of famille rose enameled porcelain baluster vases, Shende Tang Mark, Republic Period Expert remark: Note the identical dating of this lot, the manifold similarities in style, painting, technical execution and size (46.5 cm). Note that this result is for a pair.

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