EARLY MING DYNASTY, 15TH CENTURY

The decoration subtly carved around the side of current vase represents the ‘Three Friends of Winter’; pine, bamboo and prunus. This motif first appears on porcelains of the Yuan dynasty, but the three plants are mentioned together as early as the 9th century by the Tang-dynasty poet Zhu Qingyu, and specifically as the ‘Friends of Winter’ by the Song-dynasty writer Lin Jingxi (1242–1310) in Record of the Five-cloud Plum Cottage from The Clear Mountain Collection. Pine, bamboo, and prunus were all noted for their ability to withstand harsh winters and came to symbolize steadfastness, resilience, and perseverance, also representing the ideal qualities of a gentleman-scholar.

The motif can be found on Hongwu-period (1368-1398) wares in underglaze blue and copper red, such as the large and rare Hongwu underglaze copper-red jar from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd, now in the Asia Society, New York and illustrated by D. Leidy in Treasures of Asian Art, The Asia Society’s Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, New York, 1994, p. 175, no. 165.

The yuhuchunping form was produced during the Yuan and early Ming period, but Longquan celadon examples of this shape carved with the ‘Three Friends of Winter’ are extremely rare. Related Longquan celadon wares from the early 15th century, sensitively carved with flower and plant motifs, can be found in the Tokapki Saray Musuem, Istanbul, such as a ewer with garden scene illustrated by R. Krahl in Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, Vol. 1, Yuan and Ming Celadon Wares, London, 1986, p. 226, no. 225 and p. 297, and a large dish with a central pine tree, p. 228, no. 239, and p. 301.