A FINE ENAMELLED TOOL VASE

Details

A FINE ENAMELLED TOOL VASE
REPUBLIC PERIOD

Of cylindrical form, delicately painted with enamels of sepia and light blue to depict the Daoist figure of Li Tieguai, seated beside his straw hat, the figure with an amazed expression in observation of his double-gourd, from which emits wispy-clouds floating two fairies, bearing the signature of Wang Bu, written over the artist's iron-red sealmark, the base with an iron-red sealmark, Zhuxi, 'Bamboo beside mountain stream'
5 7/8 in. (15 cm.) high, box

Provenance

Muwentang Collection

Lot Essay

The painting style of the artist, Wang Bu (1896-1968) was very much influenced by his older contemporary Wang Qi (1884-1937), and this is clearly evident in the fine brushwork of the present tool vase which is closely comparable to Wang Qi's figures painted in an expressionist, xieyi, style. Compare with Wang Qi's rendition of figures on ceramic plaques, also from the Muwentang collection, illustrated in Brush and Clay, Chinese Porcelain of the ealry 20th Century, Hong Kong, 1990, nos. 11-14.

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