SHUNZHI PERIOD (1644-1661)

This large wucai vase is unusual for the delicacy of the painting as well the subject of the decoration. Created in the mid-17th century, when the artists at Jingdezhen enjoyed great freedom of expression due to a pause in imperial control, this vase exhibits the painterly creativity characteristic of this short period of time. It is unusual to have a decorative scheme including two panels, as continuous scenes or overall floral designs were more commonly found during this period. A wucai vase of slightly smaller size (44 cm.) to the present example, decorated in a similar subdued palette to the present vase but with overall floral designs, from the Roy Davids Collection of Chinese Ceramics and subsequently The Marsh Collection, was sold at Bonhams London, 3 November 2022, lot 27.

Each panel on the present vase depicts a scene of a scholar in an idyllic garden with rocks and bamboo plants. On one side, the scholar rests in front of a painting table on which sits a vase holding a lingzhi plant. Two attendants stand nearby holding objects, and it appears that the scholar’s hand is resting on a qin behind him. Three large wine pots rest nearby, possibly indicating that the figure depicts Li Bai. On the opposite side, the garden appears in mirror image with the scholar standing. A book rests on the painting table in this scene, and an attendant approaches the scholar with a qin tucked beneath his arm. It is difficult to know whether the scenes derived from woodblock prints, or from the painter’s imagination. Scattered floral sprays enclose the scenes, including lotus, peach, peony, prunus, bamboo and chrysanthemum, and are typical of contemporary wucai designs.