81 - A Chinese blue and white 'sea beasts' bowl

A Chinese blue and white 'sea beasts' bowl Qing dynasty, Daoguang mark and period Painted around the centre with nine mythical creatures amongst tumultuous waves, the interior with a winged elephant within a central medallion and double rings at the rim, the base with a six-character seal mark, 19cm diameter. 清道光 青花「海獸魚濤」紋碗，青花篆書「大清道光年製」款 It is believed to have originated during the Xuande period of the Ming dynasty. Early examples typically combine underglaze blue with red, while by the late Ming dynasty the design was more commonly rendered in underglaze blue alone. Production continued into the Qing dynasty. The present bowl is decorated throughout in underglaze blue. The interior medallion, enclosed within double circles, depicts auspicious beasts amid waves, while the exterior is encircled by a lively procession of mythical and aquatic creatures, including sea-horses, lions, rams, elephants, winged dragons, tortoises and fish, all surging through turbulent waters. The waves are rendered in fluid, closely spaced strokes, creating a vigorous sense of movement and the force of the churning sea. The various auspicious beasts and aquatic creatures are depicted in a variety of animated poses, some leaping and others racing forward, their lively forms set in dynamic contrast with the rolling waves. 「海獸魚濤」又稱「海八怪」，相傳創燒於明代宣德時期，早期多以青花與紅彩相互映襯，至明代晚期則多改以青花單色描繪，清代仍有續燒。此器通體以青花為飾，碗心於雙圈內繪海水瑞獸紋，外壁環繪海馬、獅、羊、象、翼龍、龜及魚等異獸水族，穿梭奔逐於洶湧波濤之間。海水紋飾以流暢而細密的線條層層鋪展，波濤起伏，氣勢奔放，極富動感。諸般瑞獸與水族形態各異，或騰躍，或疾行，姿態生動傳神，與翻湧的海濤相互映襯。