83 - A Chinese 'Bleu de Hue' 'dragon' bowl

A Chinese 'Bleu de Hue' 'dragon' bowl Nguyen/late Qing dynasty, Thiêu Tri niên tao mark and period (1841-1847) Boldly painted in washes of underglaze blue with a dragon chasing a flaming pearl amongst billowing clouds, the rim bound in copper, the base with four-character mark in underglaze blue,15.2cm diameter. (Import Duty Charged on the Hammer Price) 落槌價徵收進口關稅 紹治/清晚期 外銷越南皇室青花龍紋盌，「紹治年製」、暗刻「才」款 'Bleu de Hue' is the name given to the blue and white wares produced in China for the Vietnamese Royal court and exchanged as part of diplomatic missions during the 18th and 19th century. Because of its Royal use, the shapes, patterns and marks were highly codified, with dragon motifs generally reserved for use by the King. The four-character mark on the present bowl, Thiêu Tri niên tao, indicates that it was made for the use of the third Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty, Thiêu Tri (personal name Nguyễn Phúc Miên Tông or Nguyễn Phúc Tuyền), who reigned between 14 February 1841 and 4 November 1847. A fierce conservative and staunch follower of Confucianism, it is said that he favoured octagonal shapes. Many wares with this same pattern and octagonal shape, with his reign mark, have been sold at auction over the years. Cf. a cup of the same decoration, also with white metal-bound rim, was sold in Sotheby's Paris, 8 November 2022, lot 209. Bleu de Hué是指中國為越南皇室製作的青花瓷器，並於十八至十九世紀期間，作為外交使節往來的一部分進行交換。由於這類瓷器供皇室使用，其器形、紋飾及款識均受到嚴格規範，其中龍紋通常專供皇帝使用。 本碗所署四字款「紹治年造」，表明此器為阮朝第三位皇帝紹治帝御用而製。紹治帝本名阮福綿宗（亦作阮福暶），在位期間為1841年2月14日至1847年11月4日。據稱，紹治帝是一位思想保守、堅定奉行儒家思想的君主，並偏愛八角形器物。多年來，拍賣市場上曾出現多件具有相同紋飾、八角形器身及紹治年款的瓷器。可參考一件具有相同紋飾、口沿亦鑲有白色金屬的杯，曾於巴黎蘇富比（Sotheby’s Paris）拍賣，2022年11月8日，拍品編號209。