bhibb»hh Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/catalogueofchine00getz_0 THIS COPY, No. Hbb. OF THE MEMORIAL CATALOGUE OF CHINESE ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING PORCELAINS, POTTERIES, JADES, BRONZES, AND CLOISONNE ENAMELS COLLECTED BY EDWARD R. BACON WAS PRINTED FROM TYPE ON A SPECIALLY MADE PAPER MAY, NINETEEN NINETEEN, AND IS PRESENTED WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF VIRGINIA P. BACON (DECEASED APRIL 7 , I919) CATALOGUE OF CHINESE ART OBJECTS EDWARD R. BACON COLLECTION EDWARD R. BACON Zorn CATALOGUE OF CHINESE ART OBJECTS INCLUDING PORCELAINS, POTTERIES, JADES, BRONZES, AND CLOISONNE ENAMELS COLLECTED BY EDWARD R. BACON WITH ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR AND PHOTOGRAVURE NOTES AND DESCRIPTIONS BY JOHN GETZ ORDRE DE LA LEGION D’HONNEUR ORDINE DELLA CORONNE D’lTALIA PRIVATELY PRINTED FOR VIRGINIA P. BACON NEW YORK MCMXIX LIST OF PLATES Edward R. Bacon Plate I No. 2 Pair of Famille Verte Vases No. 4 No. 3 Pair of Small Famille Verte Jars Plate II No. 15 Shallow Bowl No. 17 No. 16 Pair of Famille Verte Cabinet Vases No. 18 Plate III No. 25 Famille Verte Lotus-flower Vase No. 26 Plate IV No. 31 Rare Black Hawthorn Vase No. 32 Plate V No. 35 Tall Decorated Famille Verte Vase Plate VI No. 39 Large Famille Verte Palace Jar Plate VII No. 41 Stately Famille Verte Vase No. 43 No. 42 Tall Famille Verte Vase Plate VIII No. 46 Noble Famille Verte Palace Vase Plate IX No. 49 Famille Verte Warrior Vase No. 50 Plate X No. 54 Famille Verte Vase with Raised No. 56 Figures No. 55 Tall Square Famille Verte Panel Vase Plate XI No. 60 Square Famille Verte Vase No. 62 No. 61 Square Yellow and Green Decorated Vase Plate XII No. 65 Early Famille Verte Ewer No. 66 Plate XIII No. 71 Libation Cup No. 75 No. 72 Writer’s Water-pourer No. 77 No. 73 Porcelain Duck Pourer Plate XIV . . No. 93 Pair of Turquoise-blue Parrots No. 103 No. 97 Two Decorated Bodhisattva Figures Cvn] Famille Verte Porcelain Vase Frontispiece Facing page . . 4 Famille Verte Plate Two Famille Verte Plates Pair of Famille Verte Cornet Vases Tall Famille Noire Vase Famille Verte Porcelain Vase 8 12 14 16 18 20 22 • 24 Pair of Famille Verte Beakers 26 Decorated Famille Verte Rouleau Vase 28 Square Green “Four-season” Vase • • • 32 Pair of Porcelain Fuh-lions 36 Famille Verte Porcelain Partridge Pair of Fuh-dogs 44 Decorated Ming Wine Jar Facin i Plate XV No. 107 Ming Palace Garden Seat No. 108 Two Imperial Yellow Garden Seats Plate XVI No. 114 Ming Decorated Vase No. 116 Decorated Ming Fish Jar No. 1 15 Rare Ming Decorated Vase Plate XVII No. 120 Decorated Ming Flower Vase No. 122 Decorated Ming Flower Vase No. 121 Decorated Ming Flower Vase Plate XVIII No. 129 Decorated Ming Wine Jar No. 130 Pair of Inverted Pear-shaped Vases Plate XIX No. 133 Early Ming Wine Jar No. 135 Ming Porcelain Wine Jar No. 134 Ming Decorated Wine Jar Plate XX No. 139 Ming Decorated Wine Jar Plate XXI No. 145 Reticulated Ming Wine Jar No. 146 Reticulated Ming Wine Jar Plate XXII No. 149 Decorated Ming Wine Jar No. 151 Ming Pottery Statuette No. 150 Ming Pottery Statuette Plate XXIII No. 154 Ming Glazed Pottery Figure No. 156 Ming Pottery Statuette No. 155 Ming Pottery Statuette Plate XXIV No. 158 Ming Pottery Statuette No. 160 Ming Pottery Figure on Bench No. 159 Ming Pottery Statuette Plate XXV No. 162 Ming Pottery Bodhisattva Figure No. 164 Ming Pottery Figure No. 163 Ming Pottery Bodhisattva Figure Plate XXVI No. 168 Tall Decorated Lotus-flower Vase No. 170 Rare Green and Yellow Decorated No. 169 Rare Three-coloured Dragon Bottle Vase Plate XXVII No. 179 Ming Lotus and Crane Vase No. 180 Pair of Decorated Vases Plate XXVIII No. 185 Decorated Ming Flower Vase No. 188 Another Five-colour Wine Jar No. 187 Ming Five-colour Wine Jar Plate XXIX No. 193 Pair of Decorated Ming Vases No. 194 Decorated Ming Wine Jar Plate XXX No. 198 Pair of Ming Jars No. 199 Ming Five-colour Jar Plate XXXI No. 204 Decorated Wan Li Jardiniere No. 206 Decorated Ming Gourd-shaped No. 205 Decorated Ming Gourd-shaped Bottle Bottle No. 215 Large Five-colour Ming Plate Plate XXXII No. 210 Pair of Early Famille Verte Wine No. 216 Large Five-colour Ming Plate Jars ? page 54 58 60 64 66 68 70 72 78 80 82 86 90 92 96 98 100 102 C vin 3 Facing page 120 Plate XXXIII . No. 244 Rare Famille Rose Taoist Triad Vase Plate XXXIV No. 254 Mandarin Garniture de Cheminee Plate XXXV No. 291 Pair of Unique Chun Ware Animals Plate XXXVI No. 301 Monochrome Apple-green Vase No. 302 Rare Apple-green Vase Plate XXXVII No. 314 Large Sung Celadon Vase Plate XXXVIII No. 333 Powder-blue Vase No. 334 Powder-blue Vase Plate XXXIX ........ No. 344 Large Blue and White Oviform Vase Plate XL No. 348 Pair of Stately Blue and White Jars Plate XLI No. 354 Blue and White Bottle-shaped Vase No. 355 Blue and White Bottle-shaped Vase Plate XLII No. 376 Large Blue and Red Palace Vase Plate XLIII No. 383 Large Blue and Yellow Pilgrim Bottle Plate XLIV No. 387 Large Yuan Pottery Plant Jar Plate XLV No. 393 White Jade Reticulated Rose Jar No. 394 White Jade Dragon Vase No. 395 Tall White Jade Lotus Ewer Plate XLVI No. 404 Blended Gray Jade Bird Ewer No. 406 White Jade Duck Ornament No. 407 White Jade Bird and Fruit Vase No. 412 Clouded Gray Jade Twin Vases Plate XLVII No. 437 Unique Blue Jadeite Vase No. 441 Sculptured Malachite Vase Plate XLVIII No. 443 Sculptured Malachite Vase No. 451 Han Jade Animal Paper-weight No. 452 Han Jade Animal Paper-weight No. 453 Sculptured Green Jade Water Buffalo No. 247 Famille Rose Fruit Plate No. 248 Famille Rose Fruit Plate No. 292 Chun Yao Clair-de-lune Vase No. 303 Apple-green Cabinet Jar No. 335 Powder-blue plaque No. 345 Pair of Unique Blue and White Vases No. 356 Pair of Blue and White Bottles No. 381 Large Decorated Palace Vase No. 384 Another Blue and Yellow “Full Moon” Vase No. 396 White Jade Vase and Bird Group No. 399 Pair of White Jade Bowls No. 413 Sculptured White Jade Stag No. 414 White Jade Water Coupe No. 415 Jade Animal Group No. 416 Yellow Jade Phcenix-bird Vase No. 442 Turquoise Stone Mountain Orna- ment No. 454 Another Green Jade Water Buffalo No. 456 Dark Green Jade Dragon-fish 124 140 142 150 160 168 170 172 182 188 194 212 2l6 230 24O Plate XLIX . . No. 458 Green Jade Imperial Wine-dragon Vase No. 462 Dark Green Jade Sacrificial Urn No. 463 Imperial Dark Green Jade Dragon Bowl Plate L . No. 477 No. 478 No. 479 Plate LI . No. 484 No. 487 No. 488 Plate LI I No. 513 No. 515 Plate LI 1 1 No. 522 Plate LIV No. 533 Amethystine Water Coupe Amethyst Fish-dragon Vase Ornate Amethyst Vase Smoky Quartz Peach Coupe Rock Crystal Wine Pot Rock Crystal Fruit and Bird Vase Cloisonne Sacrificial Wine Vessel Cloisonne Enamel Vase Large Ming Cloisonne Vase Parcel-gilt and Enamelled Gar- niture de Cheminee Plate LV No. 538 Pair of White Cloisonne Elephants Plate LVI . . . No. 545 Ming Cloisonne Duck No. 546 Pair of Cloisonne Ducks No. 547 Small Cloisonne Bird Plate LVII ........ No. 553 Ming Cloisonne Tripod Incense Jar No. 554 Ming Cloisonne Tripod Jar No. 557 Ming Cloisonne Tripod Censer Plate LVIII . No. 564 Quadrangular Cloisonne Beaker No. 565 Cloisonne Incense Box No. 566 Cloisonne Incense Burner Plate LIX No. 572 Pair of Colossal Cloisonne Enamel Palace Vases Plate LX No. 578 Grand Cloisonne Palace Vase Plate LXI No. 598 Inlaid Bronze Animal Wine Vessel No. 599 Small Bronze Incense Burner No. 600 Bronze Fuh-lion Plate LXII No. 605 Ancient Bronze Statue of the God of War Plate LXIII No. 615 Tall Silver Inlaid Bronze Vase Facing page 244 No. 464 Dark Green Tripod Incense Urn No. 465 Dark Green Jade Dragon Bowl No. 466 Dark Green Jade Ewer No. 467 Dark Green Jade Vase No. 469 Dark Green Gourd-shaped Bottle 252 No. 480 Dark Amethyst Jar No. 481 Rare Amethyst Bottle-shaped Vase No. 489 Ornate Rock Crystal Vase No. 490 Rock Crystal Dragon and Phoenix Vase No. 516 Cloisonne Enamel Vase 254 272 274 No. 523 Large Ming Cloisonne Vase 278 282 No. 539 Cloisonne Elephant Tripod Censer 284 No. 548 Small Cloisonne Bird Incense Burner No. 549 Two Cloisonne Enamel Quails 288 No. 558 Cloisonne Cabinet Bottle No. 559 Pair of Cloisonne Vases 29O No. 567 Triple Stand of Cloisonne and Gilt Bronze 292 294 • • • 306 No. 601 Inlaid Bronze Wine Ewer No. 603 Bronze and Silver Inlaid Ewer No. 604 Small Bronze Tripod Urn 308 312 PREFACE T HE late Mr. Edward R. Bacon was among those connoisseurs who long ago recognized the beauty and intrinsic worth of Chinese art as manifested in ceramics, cloisonne, bronze, and sculptured hard stones. All such objects appealed to his cultivated taste with equal force, if they measured up to standards that had been fixed by a certain cognizant judgment gained through his very keen eyes and sensibilities for both form and colour. The collection, as Mr. Bacon’s friends knew it in New York, was begun in an unostenta- tious way about thirty years ago, rather as an accessory to contribute in some dignified way to the appearance of his home, where its presence soon stimulated research and study. The aid of sympathetic friends and his familiarity with English and French collections, as well as the assistance of a reliable agent abroad, brought the objects now under review his way, but no one outside of his immediate family knew how wonderful and large the collection was that had been garnered, during his annual European trips, for the day when he could house and properly install it. In this connection it may be permitted to quote a few lines from a letter written to his brother, the late Mr. Walter Rathbone Bacon, dated July n, 1913, in which Mr. Bacon wrote that he had been busy for weeks in Paris, unpacking and going over his collection, feeling amazed at what he had bought during the last years. “I think you and Virginia will be gratified when you see them. I could not dupli- cate the collection now.” Mr. Edward R. Bacon saw these possessions of his in Paris for the last time during the summer of the following year — just at the time when the horrible world war began. It was his customary visit to look over and add to the collection, if possible ; at such times he had the strong rooms opened up to see and enjoy his acquired treasures. To the writer’s own amazement, he found that some of these objects had been stored ten years or more abroad, awaiting their final disposition in cabinets. Alas! there was no room for them here in Mr. Bacon’s already overcrowded home. However, there was method in the acqui- sition of this indomitable collector, for many were pendants to com- plete pairs, trios, and garnitures of five, while others were selected for their superlative quality or some notes of rarity to strengthen his collection. The several groups comprehend porcelains and potteries of the periods that are most esteemed among the cognoscenti to-day, and these, like the jades, bronzes, and cloisonne enamels, are the desideratum of museums the world over, as presenting interesting chronological phases of a Far Eastern art in its historical and technical development. Coming to us from remote times, they convey a sense of vague mystery, if not direct enchantment; these qualities were felt and acknowledged in the past by the most highly cultured patrons of art of every race. With regard especially to the ceramics, there is hardly a better illustration of the varied influence and power of art than that pre- sented by the means of a good form, created from rude clay, which, when fired and covered by the magic touch of coloured glazes, is converted into an object of special value. Many hours of aesthetic enjoyment of its merit may be held in store for the amateur as it is handed down through succeeding generations. Of great potency, also, is the innate subtlety of charm that prevails in jades when fashioned into graceful forms by the skilled Chinese lapidary craftsmen whose inherited art of many generations cannot be adequately communicated by words, even with an abundance of adjectives that one could employ in their descriptions. As with porcelains, there remains some peculiar intrinsic elegance that may be esteemed according to one’s own per- sonal predilection, whether it be sensibility of colour, charm of con- tour, or touch, and perhaps more particularly as one comprehends the history of these varied bibelots of plastic art. [xn ^ In considering the glyptic art of ancient China in the medium of nephrite, or so-called jade, interwoven as it has been with native records that date back to early periods of culture and progress, it can be said with considerable truth that, aside from written records, sculptured objects in stone have been an equal source with bronze and pottery for our information concerning the early history of those ancient people of the Middle Kingdom, or Sons of Han, whom we term Chinese. It has been deemed advisable in the construction of this work, fol- lowing the expressed wishes of Mrs. Walter Rathbone Bacon, to give a comprehensive amount of description, without entering into ex- tended technicalities. The text is supplemented by a number of coloured plates and photogravures illustrating typical specimens in the collection. Besides, the several groups have been separated accord- ing to their distinctive colours or provenance, with brief headings. New York, 1919. John Getz. [ xm H CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF CHINESE DYNASTIES T HE earlier dates given in the following table have been calculated backward by later his- torians from the lengths of the reigns and other data recorded in the current annals, and must consequently be taken as only approximate. It is not till the accession of Hsiian Wang (b.c. 822) that there is a general agreement in the native sources. From this time downward the official Chinese dates are accepted by sinologues and Chinese scholars generally as correct. Not in every case did the dynasties named below rule over the whole of China, but those named are regarded by the Chinese as legitimate. MYTHICAL EPOCH ( Known to the Chinese as San Huang) The Three Fabulous Rulers . . . about B.c. 3300-2852 QUASI LEGENDARY EPOCH ( Known to the Chinese as Wu Ti ) The Five Rulers about B.c. 2852-2205 THE THREE EARLY DYNASTIES (Feudal Period) Name of Dynasty ( Known to the Chinese as San Tai ) Number of Rulers Duration of Dynasty Hsia .... Eighteen . B.C. 2205-1766 Shang Twenty-eight 1766-II22 Chou .... Thirty-five I 122-255 Ch'in .... Five 255-206 Western Han . Fifteen 205 - 25 A.D. Eastern Han Twelve . A.D. 25-221 Name of Dynasty PERIOD OF THE THREE KINGDOMS Number of Rulers Duration of Dynasty Minor Han . Two . A.D. 221-265 Western Chin . Four 265-317 Eastern Chin Eleven 317-420 EPOCH Name of Dynasty OF DIVISION BETWEEN NORTH AND Number of Rulers SOUTH Duration of Dynasty Sung (liu House) Eight 420-479 Ch'i .... . 479-502 Liang .... 502-557 Ch'en .... . 557"589 While the four above-named dynasties were ruling over southern China, the northern half of the country was under the domination of the Northern, Western, and Eastern Wei Dynasties (Tartar House of Toba), as well as of the Northern Ch'i and Northern Chou. Name of Dynasty Number of Rulers Four . Twenty- two Duration of Dynasty * SUI . T'ANG 1 a.d. 589-618 618-906 WU TAI (“Five Dynasties”) Name of Dynasty Number of Rulers Duration of Dynasty Posterior Liang Two “ T'ang Four • • • 923-936 “ Chin Two • • • 936-947 “ Han Two • • • 947-951 Chou Three 951-960 NORTHERN SUNG > Twenty SOUTHERN SUNG ) * ‘ * ' YUAN-MONGOL DYNASTY . Twenty-five . 1280-1367 MING-NATIVE DYNASTY . Seventeen . . . 1368-1643 CH'ING (TS'ING) MANCHU DYNASTY Ten 1644-I9II REPUBLIC EMPERORS OF THE TA MING (“Great Bright”) DYNASTY Dynastic Title Title of Reign Date of End of (Miao Hua) (Nien Hao) Accession Reign T'ai Tsu . Hung Wu (“Wonderful Bravery”) . . A.D. 1368 A.D. 1398 Hui Ti . . . Chien Wen (“Founder of Literature”) . 1399 1402 Ch'eng Tsu . Yung Lo (“Eternal Joy”) 1403 I424 Yen Tsung Hung Hsi (“Abounding Glory”) .... 1425 1425 Hsuan Tsung Hsuan Te (“All-pervading Virtue”) . 1426 1435 Ying Tsung . Cheng T'ung (“Correct Ruler”) .... 1436 1449 Ching Ti . Ching T'ai (“Great Brilliancy”) .... 1450 1456 Ying Tsung (re- sumed government) T'ien Shun (“Obedient to Heaven”) 1457 I464 Hsien Tsung . Ch'eng Hua (“Perfected Influence”) . 1465 1487 Hsiao Tsung . Hung Chih (“Marvellous Administration”) 1488 1505 Wu Tsung Cheng Te (“Correct Virtue”) .... 1506 1521 Shih Tsung . Chia Ching (“Rejoicing in Purity”) . 1522 1566 Mu Tsung Lung Ch'ing (“Eminent Excellence”) 1567 1572 Shen Tsung . Wan Li (“Ten Thousand Generations”) . 1573 1619 Kuang Tsung T'ai Ch'ang (“Great Abundance”) 1620 1620 Hsi Tsung T'ien Ch'i (“Heaven-born”) l62I 1627 Chuang Lieh Ti . Ch'ung Chen (“Great Luxuriance”) 1628 1643 1 Between the overthrow of the T'ang Dynasty and the rise of the Mongol power, early in the thir- teenth century, great portions of northern China were ruled over by the following Tartar dynasties: Liao (Khitan Tartars), 907-1125; Western Liao, 1125-1168; Chin (Juchen Tartars), 1115-1234. [XVI] EMPERORS OF THE TA CH'ING (“Great Pure”) DYNASTY Dynastic Title (Miao Hua) Title of Reign (Nien Hao) Date of Accession End of Reign Shih Tsu . Shun Chih (“Original Obedience”) . . A.D. 1644 A.D l66l Sheng Tsu K'ang Hsi (“Vigorous Glory”) .... 1662 1722 Shih Tsung . Yung Ch'eng (“Concord and Uprightness”) 1723 1735 Kao Tsung Ch'ien Lung (“Untiring and Exalted”) . 1736 1795 Jen Tsung Chia Ch'ng (“Rejoicing and Excellence”) 1796 1820 Hsuan Tsung Tao Kuang (“Truth and Light”) l82I 1850 Wen Tsung . Hsien Feng (“Universal Prosperity”) 1851 l86l Mu Tsung T'ung Chih (“Perfect Ruler”) .... 1862 1874 Te Tsung . Kuang Hsu (“Overpowering Light”) 1875 1908 P'u Yi . . . . Hsuan Tung (“Excellent”) 1909 1912 REPUBLICAN PERIOD Date of Accession End of Rule Yuan-Shi-Kai President 1912 1915 Li Yuan-hung President 1915 1917 Feng Kwo-ching . President 1917 I9l8 Hsu Shih-chang . President I 9 l 8 C XVII 3 % GROUP OF TA CH'ING DYNASTY PORCELAINS No. 1. Famille Verte Cabinet Size Vase G RACEFUL gallipot (mei p'ing) shape, with small neck, showing floral details together with a rich flower brocaded lambrequin border, carefully rendered in famille verte colours on white ground. Capped by a carved teak- wood cover with jadeite ornament. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 7 inches Diameter, 4 inches No. 2. Pair of Famille Verte Vases G RACEFUL baluster shapes, with short tubular necks; in brilliant famille verte decoration, presenting a pair of phoenix (feng huang) birds among flowering plants and peony trees with rockeries. The reverse sides include the suggestion of a lotus pond with ducks, while flying cranes and other birds appear above. The necks are encircled by varied borders, all beautifully executed, including a band of red and green flowered brocad- ing; the widest band displaying a series of fanciful dragon crests posed against a lattice diaper background. Ornate descending palm leaves en- circle the expanding bases. Capped by carved teak-wood covers with coral buttons. From the H. G. Squiers Collection. Date: Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 12*4 inches Diameter, 7 % inches Plate I No. 3. Pair of Small Famille Verte Jars O VOID shapes; with rich seven-colour (yingts'ai) decoration, displaying floral motifs that include rouge-de-fer mu-tan peonies and other flower- ing plants surrounded by hovering insects. The overglaze painting is freely disposed over the pellucid white ground in typical famille verte genre. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 5^2 inches Diameter, 4 inches No. 4. Famille Verte Porcelain Vase O VIFORM shape; with wide flaring neck and everted base. An impos- ing figure decoration is presented with Lao-tzu, the Taoist philosopher, who is seated on an open rustic table, in discourse with two court officials while attendants stand by. The overglaze famille verte colours on pellucid white ground, including black enamel of lustrous quality. Bears an apoc- ryphal six-character mark of the Ch'eng Hua period — ascribable to the era of K'ang Hsi. Date: XVII century Height, 143/2 inches Diameter, 8 inches Plate I No. 5. Famille Verte Cabinet Vase S MALL club shape; of famille verte genre, presenting a warrior, with bow, who is about to shoot an arrow at a horseman who rides with his banner-bearer: illustrating an episode of the feudal times. The shoulder displays a green brocaded and flowered border, while the white everted neck sustains red flowers and black bamboo motifs. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 10 inches Diameter, 4 inches No. 6. Famille Verte Cabinet Vase S MALL club shape; with famille verte decoration on the pellucid white ground, depicting a Taoist female, either Mao Nii or Lan Ts'ai-ho, clad partly in skins and green jacket, carrying a small hoe and twig of fruit. A traveller appears to be offering a peach to her for acceptance as a favoured mortal. The decoration is completed at the shoulder by a border of red and aubergine blossoms, while its neck sustains simple black bamboo shoots. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 7 24 inches Diameter, 334 inches co ■ — ; No £ CO £ tn cs H— i t— i QJ c w CJ Cu £ CS > J- C CU cn 6 & C3 £ CO £ u « tlH fc- cs (N 6 £ 0J £ rt £ c" * No. 7. Famille Verte Cabinet Vase S MALL club shape; with figure decoration depicting an official, or kuan fu, in blue and green upper garments of an early period, who is attended by a youth with a gourd bottle athwart his back. The details include a red sun disc and dragon-headed emblem, indicating advancement. Trees and rockeries complete the reverse side, while varied bands encircle the neck and shoulder. Underneath, the foot bears a ring mark. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 8 inches Diameter, 3^ inches No. 8. Famille Verte Cabinet Vase S MALL club shape; decorated in famille verte colours. Its design in- cludes the graceful figure of a lady with fan, accompanied by a youth to whom she offers a flower. The accessories show a garden bench and stand ; above these, the red sun disc indicates high noon. All is cleverly rendered in translucent enamel colours against the white body. A poetic inscription in two lines, applying to the beauty of the maiden, completes the decoration. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 7^4 inches Diameter, 3J4 inches No. 9. Famille Verte Cabinet Vase S MALL club shape, with figure decoration presenting a noble, with tablet, who is about to worship his ancestors. He is accompanied by a fan- bearer. Still another attendant bears a vase with flowers. The accessories include a garden terrace, table, and bench; the shoulder is bordered by a green diapered brocading and four floral vignettes, while its everted white neck is finished with simple sprays of black bamboo. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 10 inches Diameter, 4 inches No. 10. Pair of Famille Verte Jars H IGH-SHOULDERED gallipot shapes, with short necks. The famille verte decoration, on white ground, presents a domestic scene that in- cludes a young noble, with an attendant fan-bearer, awaiting the arrival of a high-caste lady who is borne on clouds toward him with her infant, accom- panied by a fairy fan-bearer. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 8 inches Diameter, 5 inches No. 11. Famille Verte Ginger Jar O VOID shape, with overglaze decoration in varied colours of its class, presenting a scalloped lambrequin motif, with a ground of coral- red “honeycomb” pattern, relieved by circular white reserves that hold lizard-like dragons. The neck is bordered by a green diaper brocading, interrupted by four emblem-bearing vignettes, while the foot is finished by a balustrade design with tall aubergine stands for chimaera figures. Date: Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 8^4 inches Diameter, 8 inches No. 12. Set of Eight Sweetmeat or Confection Trays R ADIAL wedge-like forms. The famille verte decoration, on pale white glazed grounds, depicts garden terraces occupied by two ladies; the details, including palms and rockeries, are encircled by a lotus flower and small scrolled borders including green and neutral purple tints. The upper edges show a simple green fret pattern. The eight dishes form a perfect circle when placed together. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Diameter, 14 inches No. 13. Set of Eight Famille Verte Confection Trays I IKE the preceding, the fanciful forms together represent a complete circle. The three-colour decoration sur biscuit (san-ts'ai) includes the emblematic plum tree (mei hua) and birds on green ground, alternately with gift objects and mandarin emblems on yellow ground. The upper edges are bordered in pale green and involve blossoms of the mei tree. Date: Early K'ang Hsi Diameter, 18 inches No. 14. Famille Verte Bowl S HALLOW t'ang wan shape; the decoration in translucent overglaze colours depicts a court lady in yellow and blue attire, seated on a garden rockery and attended by a boy who offers a flower to her. The border, with flowered honeycomb brocading, is interrupted by four floral vignettes. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Diameter, 5^2 inches No. 15. Similar Shallow Bowl C OMPANION to the preceding, its decoration in typical overglaze colours presents chrysanthemum and aster flowers, together with a bird ; the panel also holds an artist’s seal. The green brocaded border is inter- rupted by four white vignettes that hold the paraphernalia of the “four elegant accomplishments” : music, checkers, writing, and painting. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Diameter, 5 % inches No. 16. Pair of Famille Verte Cabinet Vases G RACEFUL low baluster shapes, with pyriform bodies and everted necks; the decoration in famille verte genre uniformly presenting opulent flowering plants, among which appear rouge-de-fer mu-tan peonies, lotus blossoms, and other buds in purple, aubergine, yellow, and on-glaze amaranth-blue, freely posed against the pellucid white ground. A flying yellow-breasted bird appears above the flowers and finishes the redolent composition, together with varied floral bands and sprays. They bear blue ring marks. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 8 inches Diameter, 3 y 2 inches Plate II No. 17. Famille Verte Plate M EDIUM deep shape, with floral decoration in translucent famille verte enamels presenting a circular green lotus-flowered panel with a semi-nude Buddhist infant holding a stem of the sacred flower. The rim border is composed of contiguous forms of coin devices. Bears a ting, or four-legged incense-burner mark. Date: Era of K'ang Hsi Diameter, 8 inches Plate II No. 18. Two Famille Verte Plates M EDIUM deep shapes, the overglaze decoration in varied translucent colours including a circular panel with floral motifs on yellow ground, framed by a narrow band of mei blossoms and surrounded by four separate flower sprays. The rim shows a narrow coral-red and white floriated border. Reverse panels bear tripod emblem marks. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Diameter, 8 inches 02 u H 6 < h-} Ph I>. Ph £ o CQ * _o « _c C/0 VO c IS £ 02 Ph > 02 u > o £ > h— ! 1 — i 5 H— ! o d 1 to & 3 4 -* M e q CLh rt 1 VO C'l d £ CJ Z, v c/2 O «— i c /5 C3 £ CS fa o 1 03 4-» C v-1 Ph £ CO E CS fa ro 6 £ - '£ rt fa u o u o fa No. 44. Famille Verte Jardiniere I OW oval shape, raised on small mask-ornamented feet and with two red and white decorated handles. Hard-paste Ta Ch'ing dynasty porcelain; the exterior, with white foundation, shows prunus trees and red- breasted birds, together with a flowered border, in rich colours of the famille verte palette. The interior decoration in kindred colours sustains a prunus (mei) tree panel together with birds. Date: Era of K'ang Hsi Height, inches Width, ii t / 2 x 8% inches No. 45. Famille Verte Jardiniere S IMILAR oval form, used for growing water-lilies or for keeping gold- fish. Its exterior decoration presents the “four season flowers,” while the interior sustains double borders with brocading and butterfly vignettes beside a row of storks. The flat bottom panel shows fir and prunus trees, exe- cuted in famille verte colours on white ground. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 4 inches Width, ii l / 2 x8% inches No. 46. Noble Famille Verte Palace Vase The “hundred boy” vase T ALL beaker or yen-yen shape, gracefully expanding to two-thirds of its height, with contracted shoulder and wide flaring neck. The spirited figure composition, in translucent famille verte colours, depicts a panoramic scene with lotus pond and Imperial garden occupied by playing boys. The interior of a summer pavilion and the roofs of buildings are included by the curious license of Chinese artists. Much delicacy is shown in the application of the several translucent enamel colours, in which the distinctive greens of the K'ang Hsi period predominate. The details present at least fifty children in various groups at play or intellectual amusements; perhaps the chief centre of attraction is the pro- cession with boys in an ancient wheel-cart (chi) headed by the bearers of a fanciful lantern and lotus leaf. The shoulder is encircled by brocaded and other borders, while the neck displays more boys in a garden terrace with trees. The foot, underneath, bears an interesting inscription pricked in the glaze with a steel tool by a former owner, reading: “Additional purchase made on an auspicious day in the first month of the year 1787.” Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 28^ inches Diameter, 11 inches Plate VIII No. 47. Two Famille Verte Plates M EDIUM shallow shapes, fine hard-paste porcelain, with flower and bird decoration painted in light translucent famille verte colours. The borders present diaper patterns interrupted by peony flower medallions. Underneath, the panels bear blue “studio” marks within double rings. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Diameter, 10^2 inches Plate VIII No. 4 6 Noble Famille Verte Palace Vase No. 48. Famille Verte Plate M EDIUM shallow shape; fine hard-paste Ta Ch'ing dynasty porcelain, the decoration in overglaze colours presenting a central panel with landscape and fishermen, surrounded by a lattice brocaded border inter- rupted by four white vignettes holding miniature landscape subjects. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Diameter, 9% inches No. 49. Famille Verte Warrior Vase Wu f in g p'ing C YLINDRICAL club shape, or chih ch'ui p'ing, showing an “orange peel” (chu p'i wen) surface under the vitreous glaze. The boldly raised ornamentation, with figures in rich famille verte enamel colours with slight touches of gold, depicts a legendary battle scene from one of the early Chinese romances. A banner-man carries an Imperial pei-chi emblazoned with the mystic yang-yin emblem of duality as he rides, seated on a dappled horse, behind the royal hero Ch'eng T'ang, who holds his spear ready for a charge against the tryant Kieh (about 1767 B.C.), who, also mounted and armed with a sword, is retreating over an arched bridge. The accessories include indications of a river, trees, and a rocky foreground, while painted borders in gadroon and brocaded designs finish the base and shoulder and various coloured emblems encircle the white neck. Date : Late K'ang Hsi period Height, 17^ inches Diameter, 6*4 inches L23] Plate IX No. 50. Pair of Famille Verte Beakers Shuang ku C OMPANION pieces to the preceding. Tall cornet shapes, depicting domestic scenes, with boldly raised figures and other ornamentation in rich famille verte colouring. The exterior of a summer pavilion and various members of an absent warrior’s household are presented, together with a saddled horse led by an attendant. Close to these appears a peasant who is seated waiting under a tree. A series of raised and richly painted borders finishes the ornate and uniform decoration. Date: Late K'ang Hsi Height, 16 inches Diameter, 7^4 inches Plate IX No. 51. Two Famille Verte Jars With or-molu mounting H IGH-SHOULDERED oviform shape; hard-paste porcelain with overglaze decoration in famille verte colours on white ground, pre- senting historical figure subjects. An official, mounted on a white horse and accompanied by attendants on foot, is represented visiting his aged parent after receiving high mandarin rank. The necks are uniformly surrounded by varied borders. Louis Seize gilt-bronze mountings. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 18 inches Diameter, 10% inches o w-i o £ £ 41 to to ■ . , ' - - . • ■ : k i No. 52. Rouge-de-fer Decorated Wine Jar With original cover H IGH-SHOULDERED oviform, with short neck, the overglaze deco- ration, in rouge de fer of coral-red hue, presenting a deep descending lambrequin motif which ornately sustains floriated arabesque reserves in white, together with blue and green flowers of the “four seasons.” The reciprocal white ground below is relieved cognately with red floral sprays, while the base is encircled by a fanciful gadroon border which involves red tassels. Another coral-red band finishes the shoulder, with delicate under- glaze blue outlining and a modicum of gilding. A blue double ring mark appears underneath the foot. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 17% inches with cover Diameter, 9 5-2 inches No. 53. Famille Verte Pencil Stand Pi-chia O BLONG shape, raised on four feet, and invested with typical three- colour decoration sur biscuit. The upper panels show varied blossoms and insects freely posed against a pale yellow ground that is surrounded by a green brocaded and flowered border embellished at the sides by other floriated details. The grotesque mask-bearing feet are glazed in aubergine and yellow. Date: Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 3^4 inches Length: 8*4 x 4 -H inches C253 No. 54. Famille Verte Vase with Raised Figures Fangp'ing T APERING quadrangular shape, with contracted square neck and spreading foot. Fine Ta Ch'ing dynasty porcelain, ornamented with raised figures and brilliant overglaze decoration in famille verte (ying ts'ai) colours. The four vertical sides present images of the “god of longevity,” the “god of rank,” the “god of war,” and the “god of wealth,” each accom- panied by an attendant who carries the respective attributes of the Taoist divinities. The four sides of the neck sustain varied gift objects in bold relief, while the shoulder is painted in flowered brocading. Has a sunken foot in biscuit state with private mark of a former native owner. Date : Early XVIII century; Height, 17^4 inches Width, 6^4 inches era of K'ang Hsi Plate X No. 55. Tall Square Famille Verte Panel Vase T APERING rectangular form, with curved shoulder and tubular neck, invested with brilliant enamel colours of the famille verte variety. The four vertical sides bear twelve small alternating quadrangular and fan-shaped pictorial panels on a translucent light-green ground that is stippled with “frog-spawn” dots interspersed with scrolls, red blossoms, and varied butterflies. The four upper panels contain figures representing the “four liberal accomplishments” (writing, painting, music, and games), while the fan-shaped panels alternately disclose mythological animals and landscapes. The four lower panels show miniature landscapes with deer and ch'i-lin. A series of floral sprays and emblems appears on the shoulders amid trellis work. Alternate leaf and square shaped panels, with landscape scenery, complete the decoration on the neck. Bears private Sanskrit mark (in ink) of a Buddhist temple. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 19 ^4 inches Width, 6 x 6 inches Plate X [26] 6 a: gj 4_) CO T3 *-* rt QJ ^ ^ S-t H 6 O 1 i fa c n

> CO H CD t— ( X o til aj > c Co Uh No. 61. Square Yellow and Green Decorated Vase Famille jaune Q UADRANGULAR shape, with tubular neck. The four sides, taper- ing down from the shoulder, present an intricate swastika fret pattern impressed in the paste under the Imperial yellow glaze. This foundation is interrupted alternately by circular quadrilateral and leaf-shaped jade- green panels involving blue flowers on the lower leaf panels and the “four- season” flowers on the upper panels. Its flat corner edges are glazed in jade- green matching the panels, which colour is carried into the mortar-shaped neck, together with underglaze blue sprays of bamboo shoots. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 1 8 ^4 inches Width, 5 ^ x 5 % inches Plate XI No. 62. Square Green “Four-season” Vase Fang p'ing T APERING quadrangular shape, with mortar-like neck. Its square body is uniformly invested with a translucent light jade-green glaze involving reserved floral decorations in on-glaze famille verte colours. The four sides separately display symbolic flower plants growing near rockeries; thus, one side sustains the magnolia tree and pair of phoenix birds; another, Indian lotus flowers with large peltate leaves; a third side shows chrysan- themums, while the fourth depicts the flowering hydrangea. These sym- bolical flowers, together with small insects, are presented in varied tones of fine cobalt-blue, amber-yellow, and light aubergine. The green neck, re- lieved by smaller flowering plants amid rocks and painted in light on-glaze colours, is modern and replaces the original broken neck. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 20^ inches Width, 6x6 inches Plate XI [ 29 ] No. 63. Imperial Yellow Decorated Vase Hua p'ing T ALL baluster form, with ovoid body and flaring neck. The dense porcelain, with lustrous yellow glazed surface, presents a lightly en- graved “all-over” pattern in the form of lotus flowers and scrolling leafy stems carefully picked out in famille verte colours. The stems show an aubergine tint and the leaves a rich iridescent green, while the flowers are alternately aubergine, green, and white with a modicum of blue. These colours are also introduced in a honeycomb fret border at the base, while the neck above displays an angular fretting in two colours. Underneath, the foot is glazed in yellow and bears an apocryphal six-character Hsuan Te mark of the Ming dynasty. Date: Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 23^2 inches Diameter, 9 inches No. 64. Imperial Yellow and Green Beaker Fang p ing A RCHAIC quadrangular (ku) shape, with square everted neck sustaining - two brownish aubergine glazed handles, modelled after an ancient bronze prototype. Hard-textured porcelain, with a lustrous Imperial yel- low glazing relieved by ascending and descending green plantain leaves showing hieratic fretting. The expanded shoulder carries an archaic dragon band in aubergine, with yellow fret ground. Date: Era of Chia Ch'ing Height, 11% inches Diameter, 5 *4 inches No. 65. Early Famille Verte Ewer With rich or-molu mounting T ALL cylindrical shape, with tiara-fronted top; used originally for iced fruit syrups. The body, with original spout, is transversely divided into three sections by moulded double lines. White “sea horses” are intro- duced in the upper and lower divisions of these segments, careering upon a ground of concentric dark green wave-forms, surrounded by purple blos- soms and Buddhistic emblems. These motifs are encroached upon from above and below by foam-crested waves, while a pair of ch'i-lins and a “fish-dragon” in white, yellow, and aubergine occupy the middle section on like green foundation. Elaborately mounted w r ith Louis XIV or-molu, in the form of a tall aiguiere. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, i\y 2 inches Plate XII [30 No. 66. Pair of Porcelain Fuh-lions With rich or-molu mounting T HESE Buddhistic animals (shih-tzu) are presented seated on their haunches, one with cub and the other with a brocaded ball (chu) em- blem, supplemented with hexagonal tubes for incense sticks. The creatures show grinning muzzle, and their heads and bodies are glazed, sur biscuit, in luminous green and aubergine, while their sharp teeth remain unglazed. The vertical sides of their socles are engraved with cloud (to yiin) patches and display brilliant three-colour “tiger-skin” glazing, dominated by green and yellow, while the third colour is aubergine. The Louis XIV or-molu mounting is en suite with the aiguiere. Date : Era of K'ang Hsi Height, 17 inches Plate XII Regarded as the habitual defenders of Buddhistic altars, as also the threshold guardians of tem- ples. The shih-tzu, or mythical lion, is pictured in Chinese art as a grotesquely fantastic animal of playful character, not unlike the Pekingese spaniel. Also called the “lion-dog” (shih-tzu-k'ou) and “dog of fuh.” [ 32 ] o VO 6 £ .5 c rt _o "cj u 3x O cu -3 3 fe *-0 'vO 2? ^ w g d 1 « jy H < £ w — s CvJ Oh Uh u C" as o Z > X ro O W H P-. O £ 0> o Z T3 . 1 Z3 H5 No ^ 3 3 H rt Tj s-l OS rt bfi l-— ' «-< n <3 OJ ro CO 4-» Cs ‘0 £ ±2 «j rt S X T 3 o fcJD pS w g *— < .£ u H • 1 o CD < Ph £ o rt rt Ox co O 6 Z £ o H rt ' u o a- £ rt w CO c . 1 o *—i _C o o c/5 £ 4 inches No. 129. Decorated Ming Wine Jar W ITH a fine oviform contour, its body presents a deep purplish-blue tone, relieved by ornately incised and moulded lotus-flower motifs, freely rendered and carefully picked out in amber-yellow, turquoise-blue, aubergine, and ivory-white glazing. The shoulder is surrounded by scal- loped lambrequin border whose lappets display floral twigs, while a honey- comb diaper pattern with blossoms encircles the neck. A fanciful gadroon border with floral devices completes the base in cognate colours. The teak- wood cover is surmounted by a white jade magnolia flower. Date : Era of Hsiian Te Height, 13 inches Diameter, 11 inches Plate XVIII No. 130. Pair of Inverted Pear-shaped Vases Mei p'ing T HE freely rendered decoration shows luxuriant lotus plants in blossom above rolling waves, engraved in low relief outlines and glazed in bright amber-yellow, soft ivory-white, and turquoise-blue, within a ground of deep lapis-blue. An elaborate lobed lambrequin motif borders each shoulder, similarly executed and coloured. Date : Era of Wan Li Height, 1 1 % inches Diameter, 5^4 inches Plate XVIII No. 131. Peacock-blue Decorated Pottery Bottle O VOID gallipot (mei p'ing) shape, with small everted neck. Dense Tz'u-chou pottery, with luminous peacock-blue glazing, under which appears an early form of bluish-black pencilled decoration, the details show- ing three foliated panels, one of which depicts the figure of a sage, another a crane, and the third a rabbit. The shoulder sustains a striate band with scrollwork, while another band finishes the base. The glaze is minutely crackled. Bears some Tz'u-chou potter’s rough mark (of scratched crossed lines) on the biscuit foot underneath. Date: Late Sung dynasty Height, 10 inches Diameter, s l / 2 inches Tj o CD Cl to i > Z rt 0^ o N O Z c u o a ci b JD — > .£ « 2 LT No. 132. Another Peacock-blue Bottle O VOID gallipot (mei p'ing) shape, with small everted neck. Tz'u- chou pottery, with peacock-blue body glazing and bluish-black decora- tion in the form of three foliated panels that separately display the figure of a sage, a crane, and a rabbit, while the shoulder and base sustain striate bands with scrollwork. The blue truitee glaze shows exfoliations from age near the foot. Date : Sung dynasty Height, ioy 2 inches Diameter, y/ 2 inches No. 133. Early Ming Wine Jar Chiu-kang tzu G RACEFUL oviform, with a representation of two warriors on horse- back, one with sword and the other with spear, who are about to attack each other. Other details on reverse side include an emperor in company with officials and serving men, surrounded by trees and cloud scrolls. All is executed in low relief and picked out in turquoise, light purple, and the less known chi-hung red on iridescent lapis-blue ground. Its shoulder and neck are encircled by lotus-flower borders, while the base is completed with an ornate band in gadroon design. This rare example has a teak-wood cover with jade finial. From the collection of the late Charles A. Dana. Date: XV century; Height, 14^2 inches Diameter, 11 inches era of Hsiian Te Plate XIX In examples of this class the biscuit generally shows through the glaze here and there in various ways, according to the thickness of such glazing, whether by accident or intention, also owing to the disintegration of the glaze itself or prevailing conditions of usage; but the paste in such objects has less kaolin in its composition than later porcelain examples. The embellishments, which are modelled in low relief, perforated, or engraved, afford outlines for the different enamel colours, among which may be particularly noted the turquoise-blue and amber- yellow, besides the deep lapis-blue, often shading into purple or violet (a manganese colour) resem- bling the tint of plum skin or aubergine, but varying with epochs of production. No. 134. Ming Decorated Wine Jar With teak-wood cover O VIFORM body, with dark purple-blue foundation, presenting a diffuse ornament in outlined relief, glazed in turquoise-blue and intermingled with white figures sur biscuit; probably a production of the Peking pot- teries. The figure decoration consists of scenes illustrative of the so-called “four liberal arts,” comprehending music (ch'in), chess (ch'i), and litera- ture (shu), separately grouped, while the obverse side (reversed on illustra- tion) is devoted to painting (hua) , as depicted by a group who are examining a painting. The shoulder carries a lobed lambrequin border with formal lotus flowers, and the base is encircled by a broad gadroon band. Date : XVI century ; Height, 14 inches Diameter, 13 inches Ming dynasty Plate XIX No. 135. Ming Porcelain Wine Jar Chiu-kang tzu H IGH-SHOULDERED oviform, with broad-apertured neck. The body, with a deep lapis-blue glaze, is decorated in raised outline, the design presenting figures of the eight Taoist immortals, or pa hsien, amid pine trees and cloud forms, filled in with turquoise, pale purple, and ivory- white. The shoulder sustains patches of cloud scrolls, and the foot is en- circled by a band of incised gadroons. The teak-wood cover is surmounted by a jade figure of Lao-tzu. Date: XV century; Height, 13 inches Diameter, 12 inches Ming dynasty Plate XIX C66] '-O CO 6 z tO w (U o e ^ .5 X M X w ^ H < d< co O Z to T3 «-. . CO CO 6 z to c '§ -H 6 z ”3 .£ ct ^ No. 144. Reticulated Ming Vase M EI PTNG, or inverted pear shape, with rounded shoulder and small- apertured neck. Dense stoneweight porcelains glazed in lapis-blue with white reserves sur biscuit. The openwork outer shell shows the figure of a sage who is accompanied by an attendant with his silk-covered zither. Other details, moulded in the paste and coated in turquoise-blue, include pine trees and cloud scrolls. A border of fungi and flower details encircles the shoulder in aubergine-purple and amber-yellow, while the base is sur- rounded by a fanciful openwork gadroon border. Date: Era of Hsiian Te Height, 11% inches Diameter, 5^4 inches No. 145. Reticulated Ming Wine Jar H IGH-SHOULDERED oviform, with receding foot, short neck, and broad mouth. It has an outer pierced casing, removed from its con- tainer by an inch or more. The modelled openwork decoration is dominated by turquoise-blue, with touches of amber-yellow, aubergine, and pale manganese lavender. A group of sages engaged over a game of checkers are depicted, with attendants bringing refreshments. The background is com- posed with reticulated network, cloud forms, fir trees, rockeries, and fungus clumps. A band of openwork peony scrolls encircles the shoulder, while an ornately pierced bordering of conventional flowered gadroon design com- pletes the embellishment around the base. Its cover of carved teak-wood is surmounted by an elaborate jade ornament. Date : XVI century ; Height, 14 inches Diameter, 13 inches Ming dynasty Plate XXI [70 No. 146. Reticulated Ming Wine Jar H IGH-SHOULDERED oviform, with short neck. The decoration, like that of preceding example, is apparently a production from the same kilns. The broad openwork shell forms an outer casing for a ponderous interior container. Its rich turquoise-blue foundation, with slightly mottled appearance, shows an openwork and moulded ornamentation, with the eight Taoist immortals, or pa hsien, paying court to Lao-tzu, the god of longevity, who is seated under a pine accompanied by his deer attribute, amid cloud scrolls, mountains, and pine trees, picked out in turquoise-blue, amber- yellow, and ivory-white. A band of openwork peony scrolls encircles the shoulder in aubergine, white, and yellow, while the base below shows an ornate gadroon border. Has a teak-wood cover with a carved carnelian agate finial. Date : XVI century ; Height, 13^4 inches Diameter, 13 inches Ming dynasty Plate XXI Similar examples exist in the Eumorfopoulos Collection in London, and others were in the col- lection of the late J. P. Morgan. No. 147. Green and Yellow Ming Pottery Vase O VATE form, with flaring neck; the body is glazed in lustrous malachite green, and ornamented with three reticulated floral panels whose de- tails are picked out in contrasting yellow and aubergine hues. The everted yellow neck is surrounded by ascending green serrated leaves, moulded in relief with white and yellow ribbings. Date: XVI century; Height, 21^2 inches Diameter, 10^4 x 6 inches Ming dynasty QJ o z QJ s 4— I bX) ^ .n co s ^ bX3 1-1 c 4.4 CO No. 1 § >> 5-4 QJ 4-1 4-4 o Ol, No. 148. Two Ming Pottery Tripod Supports T HE bold relief details, with double row of scalloped borders in ju-i head forms, include three spreading legs that, with bossing, rest on circular bases. The tops sustain round sunken receptacles for varied uses. The whole is covered by olive-green, amber-yellow, deep aubergine, and turquoise-blue glazing. Date: XVI century; Height, 10 inches Diameter, 7 inches Ming dynasty No. 149. Decorated Ming Wine Jar T YPICAL bulbous oviform shape, with a rare malachite-green founda- tion of iridescent quality, sustaining slightly raised and outlined deco- ration in the form of long-tailed birds, flowering plants, and rockery motifs. These details are glazed in aubergine, turquoise, yellow, and ivory-white tones against the green body colour. The shoulder is surrounded by a scalloped border, enriched with lotus flowers and pendent emblems, picked out in kindred colours. The green neck has a band of lanceolations and six cloud patches, and the base is finished by an ornate and high-ascending gadroon pattern. Rare example of its class. Fitted with a carved teak-wood cover, surmounted by jadeite lotus finial. Date : XVI century ; Height, 13^2 inches Diameter, 12 inches Ming dynasty Plate XXII GROUP OF MING STATUETTES I No. 150. Ming Pottery Statuette M ODELLED in dignified pose, die seated figure represents a viceroy or other high personage of Chinese history enthroned on a raised platform and glazed in brilliant mottled green, aubergine, and yellow tones. The head is covered by a court hat and the hands are clasped in devout attitude of ancestral worship, though the tablet attribute is missing. Date: Era of Chia Ch'ing; Height, 15 inches Width, 10 inches Ming dynasty Plate XXII No. 151. Ming Pottery Statuette Companion to the preceding figure M ODELLED in dignified pose, and representing a young prince or other high personage of Chinese history, also enthroned on a raised platform. His outer garment is glazed in a brilliant mottled green and bluish flambe. The head is covered by a court hat, and the hands are clasped in devout attitude of ancestral worship, though the tablet is missing. Bears a single character mark, “Ching,” probably the name of some former owner; the word also means “accomplished” and may refer to the sitter. Date: Era of Chia Ch'ing; Height, 15 inches Width, 10 inches Ming dynasty Plate XXII No. 152. Ming Pottery Bodhisattva Figure R EPRESENTING Kuan-yin, the most popular of the many Chinese . Bodhisattvas. Modelled with high head-dress and tiara, this divinity is enthroned, on a low thalamus pedestal with acuminated backpiece, bordered by flame-like scrolls. The simply flowing robes are glazed in turquoise-blue and aubergine like the pedestal, while the face and the be- jewelled neck and hands are in grayish-white biscuit state. Height, 10% inches [ 77 ] Date: XVI century; Ming dynasty Width, 5 inches No. 153. Two Ming Pottery Statuettes, with Backpieces Companion pieces to the preceding figure M ODELLED in dignified sedant pose and uniformly representing personages of Chinese history, with beards. Their garments are glazed in brilliant turquoise and lapis-blue tints, while their faces, with the long ear-lobes of deified men, are left in biscuit state. The hands are clasped in devout attitude of ancestral worship, though the tablets are missing. Date : XVI century ; Height, 10% inches Width, 5 inches era of Chia Ch'ing No. 154. Ming Glazed Pottery Figure M ODELLED in dignified pose and representing a viceroy or other high official (unidentified) seated on a raised platform with foot-stool. The figure, glazed in brilliant purplish-aubergine and turquoise-blue, is depicted with short beard, wearing a magistrate’s girdle, with green jade plaquette and an elaborate head-covering of remote times. His face, like the hands, are left in biscuit state; one hand is held on his right knee, while the left hand is raised and probably held a written scroll. Possibly this figure represents one of a series of historical personages made by Li Chang Chiang during the last years of Emperor Chia Ch'ing’s reign. Date : XVI century ; Height, 24% inches Width, 1 1 ]/z inches era of Chia Ch'ing Plate XXIII [78] VO <->-1 o Z .5 cn >> w vo W H >1 o z -> o w VO VO o z bJD cs Zt 4-1 .3 CO No. 155. Ming Pottery Statuette R EPRESENTING an historical personage in priestly garb, with shaven head. His long robe is glazed in dark purplish-aubergine with tur- quoise-blue facing like the skirt. Stands on a cloud scroll, the socle of which is painted in turquoise and purple. Date: XVI century Height, 16% inches Width, 6 inches Plate XXIII No. 156. Ming Pottery Statuette C OMPANION to the preceding; representing a young magistrate or noble, assumably of romantic history, wearing a long begirdled gar- ment glazed in dark aubergine and turquoise-blue. He stands on cloud scroll and painted socle. Date: XVI century Height, 16% inches Width, 6 inches Plate XXIII No. 157. Ming Pottery Group R EPRESENTING Lao-tzu riding upon an ox. The old philosopher . and founder of Taoism is modelled, in accordance with native pictorial tradition, as a venerable man with lofty brow and long beard. His garments are glazed in turquoise-blue and amber-yellow, while his face is coated with gold lacquer. These colours are repeated on the buffalo-ox, with the addi- tion of green and aubergine tints on its pottery base. Date: XVI century; Height, 9*4 inches Length, 7 inches Ming dynasty C79] No. 158. Ming Pottery Statuette A YOUTHFUL priest is represented with fly-brush, standing on amber- coloured scrolls. His long-sleeved garment is glazed in turquoise-blue enriched by purplish-aubergine coloured edgings. The hos'su, or fly-brush, is held in his right hand, while the left is hidden under the long sleeve. The added square socle is coloured cement plaster. Date: XVI century; Height, 16% inches Width, 6 inches Ming dynasty Plate XXIV No. 159. Ming Pottery Statuette Companion to the preceding R EPRESENTING a court official, with beard and black court hat of . ancient times. Standing on a cloud scroll with square socle painted in turquoise tints, he wears a long yellow and turquoise robe, and holds his hands across the body and hidden by the long sleeves of his garment. Date: XVI century; Height, 17 inches Width, 6 inches Ming dynasty Plate XXIV No. 160. Ming Pottery Figure on Bench R EPRESENTING a bearded magistrate or viceroy in sedant attitude with long beard and the elongated ear-lobes of wisdom, and wearing an olive-brown head-covering with green jade button. His empty left hand rests on the knee, while his right hand touches the girdle. Depicted in a long-sleeved outer garment of old russet colour, enriched with a phcenix- bird device. The long bench is glazed in green with yellow borders and end panels. Bears an inscription, made by a former native owner, reading: “On the New Year day of the Wei star, in the first month of the year 1697, peace reigns.” Date: Ming dynasty Height, 13 inches Width, 9 inches [80] Plate XXIV CD 3 .H uo 2 b h— I V X w o >-< , bJO c bJD -Z .zr o ^ CL) . 1 o § b W H C z