Sold Ceramics - Sold Red & Gold / Rouge-de-Fer 1690-1730 - Flowers, Animals and Long Elizas - Page 1

Object 2011434

The Lady with the Red Whisk

The popular Chinese drama ' The Lady with the Red Whisk' (Hongfu nü), set in the late Sui dynasty (584-618), tells the story of the courtesan Zhang Chuchen, known as Lady Hongfu, who is the mistress of the minister Yang Su (D.606), but who simultaneously starts a love affair with the young scholar Li Jing (571-649). Eventually the lovers elope and later help to topple the Sui dynasty. Li Jing is promoted to general and goes on to co-found the Tang dynasty. The story was first published in the Tang dynasty as part of the 'Biography of the Dragon-bearded man' (Qui ran ke Zhuan) by Du Guangting (850-933) and was the beginning of a series of adaptations. (Suebsman 2019, p.34)

On this dish we see Lady Hongfu escaping in the night in a boat, disguised as a man. A friend of hers, another courtesan, waves goodbye to her with the duster that Hongfu has left behind. Scenes from Hongfu's tory can be found mostly on Kangxi-period blue-and-white porcelain. On Melk en Bloed  (milk and blood) only two scenes are known. (Suebsman 2019, p.34)