Vase rouleau en porcelaine bleu blanc, Chine, époque Shunzi (1644-1661)

Lot 140. Vase rouleau en porcelaine bleu blanc, Chine, époque Shunzi (1644-1661). Estimation €10,000 – €15,000 ($11,285 - $16,927). Price realised EUR 51,900. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2016

The body is finely painted with a continuous scene of rocks and mountains among swirling clouds, with four characters from the popular fourteenth century semi-historical novel Shuihu Zhuan, 'The Water Margin', all between incised lines and lotus sprays to the waisted neck. 18 ½ in. (47 cm.) high.

Provenance: From a European private collection, acquired between the 1960s and the 1990s in the European art market, and thence by descent to the present owner.

A BLUE AND WHITE SLEEVE VASE, CHINA, SHUNZHI PERIOD (1644-1661)

Note: The well-known novel, Shuihu zhuan ('The Water Margin'), attributed to Shi Nai'an (1296–1372), is regarded as one of the great novels of Chinese literature. The story is set in the Song dynasty and revolves around a group of some 108 outlaws, who assemble at the marshes of Liangshan and form a sizeable army. Eventually they are granted amnesty by the authorities, who then send them to repel foreign invaders and suppress rebels. For a further discussion of the story, see Michael Butler, Julia B. Curtis and Stephen Little, Shunzhi Porcelain: Treasures from an Unknown Reign, 1644-1661, Alexandria, VA, 2002. 

Christie's. ART D'ASIE, 21 - 22 June 2016, Paris