Lot 42. A pair of blue and white bowls, Yongzheng six-character marks and of the period (1723-1735). Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 (€4,500 - 6,700). Photo: Bonhams.
The exteriors painted with a continuous scene of two ladies in a balustraded garden with willow and potted plants led by an attendant carrying a candle, the interior with a medallion encircling pine, bamboo and plum blossom. Each 15.5cm (6 1/8in) diam. (2).
Provenance: an important European private collection
Notes: The decoration on the bowls refers to the Yuan dynasty play 'Moon Obeisance Pavilion' (Bai yue ting). The story goes that the Jin Empire was being invaded from the north and all from the capital fled, including the official Wang Shang and his wife and daughter. However, in the confusion his daughter Rui Lan gets separated from the family but finds the young scholar Jiang Shilong. Together they encounter many hardships but fall in love. When the father Wang Shan finds his daughter again, he disapproves of the relationship and takes Rui Lan away where she only finds comfort from her sister Rui Lian. The decoration on the present bowl depicts them together at night going to make obeisance to the moon in memory of the love for Jiang Shilong.
Compare with a similar blue and white bowl, Yongzheng mark and of the period, sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong on 7 April 2015, lot 3672.
Ablue and white Ming-style bowl, Mark and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735). Estimate 150,000 — 200,000 HKD. Lot sold 400,000 HKD at Sotheby's Hong Kong on 7 April 2015, lot 3672. Photo Sotheby's
(Cf. http://www.alaintruong.com/archives/2015/04/08/31858338.html)
Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART, 10 november 2016, 10:30 GMT, LONDON, NEW BOND STREET