Asian Art Auction

December 05, 2011

LOT 391

Lot 391

Rare Ming-Style Blue and White Vase, Meiping, Qianlong Mark and Period (1736-1795)

Rare Ming-Style Blue and White Vase, Meiping, Qianlong Mark and Period (1736-1795)
Lot 391 Details
Rare Ming-Style Blue and White Vase, Meiping, Qianlong Mark and Period (1736-1795)

Masterfully potted, the broad shoulders elegantly tapering towards a hidden footring with the smooth sides decorated in a network of Ming-style scrolling composite foliates simulating the “heaping and piling” method, a band of overlapping plantain lappets create a border along the foot while a band of petal lappets surround the high shoulder
height 14.3" — 36.3 cm.

Estimate $150,000-$250,000

Realised: $692,500
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Additional Images
Rare Ming-Style Blue and White Vase, Meiping, Qianlong Mark and Period (1736-1795)
  • Rare Ming-Style Blue and White Vase, Meiping, Qianlong Mark and Period (1736-1795)
  • Rare Ming-Style Blue and White Vase, Meiping, Qianlong Mark and Period (1736-1795)
  • Rare Ming-Style Blue and White Vase, Meiping, Qianlong Mark and Period (1736-1795)
  • Rare Ming-Style Blue and White Vase, Meiping, Qianlong Mark and Period (1736-1795)
  • Rare Ming-Style Blue and White Vase, Meiping, Qianlong Mark and Period (1736-1795)
  • Rare Ming-Style Blue and White Vase, Meiping, Qianlong Mark and Period (1736-1795)
Provenance:

From the estate of Joseph Desmarais (1914-1978), an auctioneer at Fraser Brothers, Montreal from the late 1940’s until 1978. The vase was acquired prior to 1950 in Montreal, and thence by descent within the family

Note:

Well-known for his antiquarian tastes, many works commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor reflected earlier stylistic influences ranging from the archaic to the 15th century. Handsomely potted, this rare blue and white Ming-style meiping emulates many of these earlier characteristics from the form itself to the “heaping and piling” method of decoration.
Inspired by the shape of a young female body, the meiping was a highly prized but rare shape for Chinese pottery. Its form recalled earlier Song (960-1279) and Ming (1368-1644) tastes, as this type of vessel was especially popular during these periods. Additionally, the carefully controlled “heaping and piling” method used to decorate the vase was reminiscent of the 15th century when potters had not yet mastered the craft of firing the underglaze cobalt blue to achieve even, well-controlled tones. The resulting effect was areas of highly concentrated, pooling paint, which created near black tones. By the 18th century, many of these skills had been perfected and in a bid to reference the greatly admired porcelains of the previous dynasty, skilled craftsmen purposefully replicated the method of bold brushwork and sporadic bursts.
For a comparable to this vase, please see a pair from the collection of Evelyn Annenberg Hall, purchased from Frank Caro, New York in 1963, and sold at Christie’s New York March 29, 2006, lot 148

CONDITION DETAILS

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A PREMIUM LOT. ANY BIDDING ON THIS LOT REQUIRES PRE-APPROVAL FROM THE ASIAN ART DEPARTMENT AT LEAST 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THE SALE. Please contact [email protected] or 416.847.6185 for more information

LOT 391
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About Condition Ratings

  • 5 Stars: Excellent - No discernable damage, flaws or imperfections
  • 4 Stars: Very Good - Minor flaws or imperfections visible only under close inspection using specialised instruments or black light
  • 3 Stars: Good - Minor flaws visible upon inspection under standard lighting
  • 2 Stars: Fair - Exhibits flaws or damage that may draw the eye under standard lighting
  • 1 Star: Poor - Flaws or damage immediately apparent under standard lighting (examples: missing components, rips, broken glass, damaged surfaces, etc.)

Note: Condition ratings and condition details are the subjective opinions of our specialists and should be used as a guide only. Waddington’s uses due care when preparing condition details, however, our staff are not professional restorers or conservators. Condition details and reports are not warranties and each lot is sold “as is” in accordance with the buyer’s terms and conditions of sale. In all cases the prospective purchaser is responsible for inspecting the property themselves prior to placing a bid.