Important Chinese Art
Important Chinese Art
PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN NOBLE FAMILY | 歐洲顯赫私人珍藏
A MAGNIFICENT AND VERY RARE LARGE FAMILLE-ROSE 'DRAGON' DISH, YONGZHENG MARK AND PERIOD | 清雍正 粉彩雲龍捧壽紋大盤 《大清雍正年製》款
Auction Closed
November 4, 07:52 PM GMT
Estimate
260,000 - 360,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN NOBLE FAMILY
歐洲顯赫私人珍藏
A MAGNIFICENT AND VERY RARE LARGE FAMILLE-ROSE 'DRAGON' DISH
YONGZHENG MARK AND PERIOD
清雍正 粉彩雲龍捧壽紋大盤 《大清雍正年製》款
of ogee shape with gently rounded sides rising to a broad everted rim, vividly painted to the interior in vibrant enamels with two sinuous five-clawed dragons, one depicted in vibrant pink, the other in bright green, with fierce expressions and powerful limbs, their long bodies enveloping and flanking a central shou medallion picked out in iron-red and gold, powerfully moving amidst multi-coloured clouds, the wide rim boldly painted with eight red-crested cranes flying among clouds, the exterior painted with ten iron-red bats hovering above tumultuous turquoise waves skirting the foot, the base with a six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle
Diameter 53.5 cm, 21⅛ in.
Acquired by an ancestor of the present owner who was a diplomat in China and who, on his return to Europe in the mid-19th century, brought back the dish in its wooden frame. By descent to the present owner.
此盤由現任藏家祖上（曾為駐華外交官）於19世紀中期連同其木框帶回歐洲，此後家族傳承
On this dish two ferocious side-facing five-clawed dragons, symbols of the emperor, are painted in washes of pink and green enamels moving towards a central shou medallion. Small colourful wispy clouds, are scattered around the interior and rim of the charger. Known as wuse yun (five-coloured clouds), they were considered to be auspicious omens, their sightings announcing good fortune. The eight cranes on the rim and ten bats on the exterior carry further symbolic meanings: cranes were traditionally associated with longevity and eight cranes stood for the Eight Daoist Immortals. Red bats, on the other hand, are a visual pun for blessings, good fortune and longevity. The overall design painted in such vibrant and colourful enamels on this dish, is packed with potent and auspicious symbols and messages, responding to the Yongzheng emperor's need to constantly justify his right to rule.
Several closely related examples have appeared on the market, the first was sold twice in our Hong Kong rooms, on 12th/13th May 1976, lot 299, and again, 19th May 1985, lot 343; a second example was also sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 26th November 1980, lot 412; and a third example was sold at Christie's London, 7th December 1992, lot 59; finally, a fourth dish of this size and pattern was sold in twice in our Hong Kong rooms, on 17th November 1975, lot 111, and again, 9th October 2012, lot 3068.