Provenance:
- Nieuwenhuys Collection, 1991 (label nr. 501A)
- Private Collection, Belgium 2025
Condition Report Available
€ 7,500
This object can be viewed in our gallery.
This pair of scallop-edged small bowls and saucers, are fluted to resemble a chrysanthemum flower. They are decorated in bright overglaze enamels in the famille verte palette of greens, red, blue, yellow and aubergine. The saucers have a large central panel with a colourful flying phoenix and a crouching qilin in a garden. The high curved rim, is divided into four panels outlined with a red line. Two have scenes with fabulous creatures, including a Buddhist lion and a Xiezhi. The other two panels are decorated with a scene of a bird on a rock, amongst peony and magnolia bushes; the other with mandarin ducks with reeds and flowers. The backs of the saucers have three simple sprays of peonies and on the base a simplified blossom within a double ring in underglaze blue.
The bowls are divided around the outside into four panels, also decorated with auspicious and mythical animals: a baize with red flames, a qilin with a phoenix in flight, a xiezhi with an eagle and a deer with a crane and a pine tree. The inner rim of the bowl, has a band of flowers and leaves within red lines and the cavetto has a round medallion with a peony bush, rocks and tiny insects. When featured together, these animals and plants have great auspicious significance. The powerful mythical creatures depicted together, represent good fortune, justice, and wisdom. The deer, crane and pine tree are emblems of longevity and the peony a symbol of riches and honour.
Even though there are several collections which have either cups or saucers, it is rare to find them together. The Groninger Museum has two cups (inv.nr. 1962.0177) and one saucer (inv.nr. 2011.0074). The Burrell Collection, Glasgow also has two bowls (inv.nrs. 38.788 & 38.789). The Vergottis Collection, Lausanne has a single saucer with the same decoration.
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