KANGXI 1662 – 1722 Blue and White Porcelain
A Fine Large Kangxi Blue and White Porcelain Rouleau Vase c.1680-1700, Depicting the `West Lake`. Decorated with a Very Extensive Scene Covering the Surface of this Large Porcelain Vase. The Central Scene is of Two Scholars on Horseback, with Their Servants Carrying the Luggage, Arriving at a Large Building with People Awaiting their Arrival. This View is Part of a Wide Panorama of People Traveling by Horseback, Boat or Walking. There are Large Pavilions, Bridges, Jetties, Temples and Pagodas, all of Which are Surrounded by Water with Lotus Flowering. There is a Mountainous Backdrop to this Busy Scene.
SOLD
- Condition
- Repairs to the edge of the base : The are two large but narrow sections of the base rim broken and e-stuck, c.90.5 mm and 90 mm in length with small chips between the re-stuck. The large re-stuck pieces extend into the painted part of the vase by upto c.22 mm at their deepest. There is a small made-up oval piece which at its widest is c.10 x 4 mm. The re-stuck section extends into the base by about 8 mm.
- Size
- Height : 47 cm (18 1/2 inches).
- Provenance
- N/A
- Stock number
- 22658
- References
- For a Kangxi blue and white vase dated to 1676-1700 from the Shanghai Museum with a design showing West Lake where some of the pavilions and gates are named see : Seventeenth Century Jingdezhen Porcelain from the Shanghai Museum and the Butler Collection (Shanghi Museum, 2006. ISBN 1-85759-417-7) page 284, plate 104.
Photos
Information
West Lake / Xi Hu :
Since 2011 the West Lake has been listed as a U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritage site, it is located near the Southern Song (1127-1279) capital of Hangzhou. There are in fact thirty six West Lakes in China but the beauty of the West Lake at Hangzhou has been praised as being by far the finest. Originally no more than a shallow inlet, this section of the Qiantong River was dredged and dammed in the eighth century to form the lake, it was extensively altered during the Southern Song dynasty. It has since come to be seen as natural but it is a man made idyllic vision of nature. Later during the Qing period Emperors visited the lake, Kangxi visited West Lake several times and in 1705, during his fourth visit he lived there in a temporary palace, Qianlong also visited West Lake several times, also staying in temporary palaces. Qianlong also wrote the famous poem `Ten Scenes of the West Lake`, a poem learnt by all Chinese school children today. The Lake is shallow, being some five meters deep with small islands and surrounded by mountains, it is a haven for wildlife and lotus grows freely. It is dotted with historical building, temples, named gateways and pavilions.
Su Shi (1037 -1101) (Also called Su Dongpo)
"Ripping water shimmering on sunny day,
Misty mountains shrouded the rain;
Plain or gaily decked out like Xizi;
West Lake is always alluring."
Ten Scenes of the West Lake by Qianlong (Reigned 1736-1795)
"Dawn on the Su Causeway in Spring
Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer
Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn
Remnant Snow on the Bridge in Winter
Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset
Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds
Orioles Singing in the Willows
Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond
Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon
Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill"