Sold Ceramics - Sold Famille Rose wares 1725-1800 - Dishes - Page 2

Objects 2011610ABC & 2011633ABC

Six dishes

China

1735-1750

2011610

(A) Height 29 mm (1.14 inch), diameter of rim 228 mm (8.98 inch), diameter of footring 128 mm (5.04 inch), weight 337 grams (11.89 ounce (oz.))

(B) Height 24 mm (0.95 inch), diameter of rim 228 mm (8.98 inch), diameter of footring 128 mm (5.04 inch), weight 348 grams (12.28 ounce (oz.))

(C) Height 26 mm (1.02 inch), diameter of rim 230 mm (9.06 inch), diameter of footring 123 mm (4.84 inch), weight 370 grams (13.05 ounce (oz.))

2011633

(A) Height 28 mm (1.10 inch), diameter of rim 228 mm (8.98 inch), diameter of footring 122 mm (4.80 inch), weight 344 grams (12.13 ounce (oz.))

(B) Height 28 mm (1.10 inch), diameter of rim 229 mm (9.02 inch), diameter of footring 122 mm (4.80 inch), weight 387 grams (13.65 ounce (oz.))

(C) Height 26 mm (1.02 inch), diameter of rim 228 mm (8.98 inch), diameter of footring 127 mm (5.00 inch), weight 343 grams (12.10 ounce (oz.))

Six dishes on footrings, flat underglaze brown-edged rims (jia mangkou). Decorated in various famille rose enamels, iron-red, black, gold and other overglaze enamels with a seated lady and two servants. One servant is holding a fan behind the seated lady while the other is pouring a cup of tea. The central decoration is surrounded by a floral scroll in rococo-style. On the rim a spearhead pattern border (the shape resembling a spearhead while in fact they are stylised ruyi motifs). The reverses are undecorated.

The design on these dishes derived from an old Chinese novel named 'The drunken Concubine', one of the masterpieces by Mei Lan-Fang (a famous opera actor and legend, famous for performing a female role on stage). The story happened in Tang Dynasty around 745-755 AD. It is almost a one-person show. The story is quite simple. Mei had made this play famous by his vivid performance reflecting the concubine's disappointment, her drunken charming, and her intentional show-off of her beauty. There are many movements difficult to perform, including drinking a cup with the performer's teeth only and placing the cup on the tray by bending over backwards.

YANG Yu-Huan was Emperor Ming-Huang's favourite concubine. One evening the two had arranged to meet in a pavilion in the imperial gardens after the Emperor was off his duty. So YANG prepared a banquet and was sitting there waiting for him. But the Emperor failed to his promise and went to see one of his other beautiful concubines. The two eunuchs, Gao Li-Shi and Pei Li-Shi, who were serving YANG, informed her of her humiliating position.

Furious and depressed by the news, YANG decided to have the banquet alone and ordered the eunuchs to serve the alcoholic drink. YANG showed various stages of intoxication, her jealousy and bitterness, and her intention to forget all the unhappiness. She pretended at first that she was not drunk, but gradually was out of self-control. She scorned the eunuchs when they tried to help. She tried to stand up but was forced to lean on the table for support. When she tried to walk, her steps faltered and her legs were unsteady, and eventually had to be supported by her maids.

The two eunuchs were feeling sad and feared that she might ask for more alcoholic drinks. They felt they ought to refuse to serve more but they couldn't. To quiet YANG, the eunuchs told her that the Emperor had arrived. When she discovered that the Emperor was not coming she became angry again. She ordered one of the eunuchs to go and commanded the Emperor to drink with her. When the eunuch refused to do such she got his face slapped. Taking off the eunuch's hat she placed it on her own head and pretended to walk like a man. Then she threw it at the eunuch.

The eunuchs gradually persuaded her to return to her chambers, and she finally agreed and staggered away assisted by her maids.

(source: www.chinahighlights.com and S. Fan)

For dishes decorated with an identically central design, please see:

Condition:

2011610

(A): a firing flaw, a fleabite and fine crazing to the glaze.

(B): two fleabites, a Y-shaped glaze hairline to the centre (not visible on the reverse) fine crazing to the glaze.

(C): three fleabites, three frits and two chips.

2011633

(A): a firing flaw, a fleabite and fine crazing to the glaze.

(B): six fleabites, four frits and a hairline.

(C): a firing flaw, a fleabite and two frits.

References:

Gordon 1977, p.14

Jörg 1989/2, cat. 102

Sargent 2012, p.183

Suchomel 2015, cat. 251

www.chinahighlights.com

Price: Sold.