KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)

Details

A WUCAI 'CARP' DISH
KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)
7 7⁄8 in. (20 cm.) diam.

Provenance

The James (1913-1990) and Marilynn (1926-2019) Alsdorf Collection, Chicago, acquired prior to 1990.
Sacred and Imperial: The James And Marilynn Alsdorf Collection Part II; Christie's New York, 24 September 2020, lot 838.

Conditions of sale

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Rufus Chen (陳嘉安) Head of Sale, AVP, Specialist

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Lot Essay

The carp has long served as a symbol of abundance and prosperity in Chinese culture. According to Terese Bartholomew in Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art, San Francisco, 2006, p. 58, the carp, liyu, is a pun for “enormous profits.” The benevolent act of setting a carp free is believed to bring great merit. Kangxi-period dishes with a similar decorative scheme are also found bearing Kangxi marks, such as a pair of examples sold at Christie's New York, 15 September 2009, lot 360.

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