Lot 3703
  • 3703

A FINE FAMILLE-VERTE 'MONTH' CUP MARK AND PERIOD OF KANGXI

Estimate
500,000 - 700,000 HKD
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Description

  • porcelain
finely potted with deep rounded sides rising from a short foot to a flared rim, the exterior delicately enamelled with red crab apple buds, the reverse inscribed in underglaze blue with a poem reading qing xiang he su yu, jia se chu qing yan ('the fragrance blends with the flavour of evening rain; the beautiful colour stands out in clear weather like in mist'), followed by a seal mark reading shang

Provenance

Collection of Sir Harry Garner (1891-1977).
Sotheby's London, 25th March 1975, lot 267.

Exhibited

Enamelled Polychrome Porcelain of the Manchu Dynasty, Oriental Ceramics Society, London, 1951, cat. no. 8.

Condition

The cup is in overall very good condition with only a fine body line enclosing the foot and occasional minor surface wear. The enamels have been generally well preserved.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

The differences in size, colours, inscriptions as well as scarcity suggest that month cups may not have been produced as sets of twelve, but perhaps issued consecutively.

Complete sets of month cups are therefore extremely rare. A full set of month cups in the Palace Museum, Bejing, is illustrated in Kangxi. Yongzheng. Qianlong. Qing Porcelain from the Palace Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1989, p. 65, pl. 48.