CHONGZHEN 1628 – 1644 Ming Porcelain
A Rare Ming Porcelain Dish for the Japanese Market, Transitional, Chongzhen 1628-1644. This Rare Dish is Decorated in Under-Glaze Blue and Over-Glaze Enamels in the Shonzui Style. The Center is Painted with a White Rabbit Against an Iron-Red Ground within a Roundel. From the Roundel are Eight Ogee Shaped panels with Geometric Patterns, these are Inset with Four Bird Roundels. The Base has a Fu Character (prosperity).
SOLD
The Peony Pavilion Collection Catalogue (see below) notes “This is almost certainly a `special commission` from China, and originally very expensive. In view of the very bold colouring, it may be that it originally formed part of the ceramics for the daimyo-cha or `pretty` tea (Kirei-sabi) for aristocratic ladies, where such bright pieces would be more acceptable than in Rikyu-style austere tea”.
- Condition
- In excellent condition with one minute frit filled to the rim c.4 x 2 mm.
- Size
- N/A
- Provenance
- From an English Private Collection of Japanese and Chinese Ceramics.
- Stock number
- 24359
- References
- A Chongzhen dish of this design but of a larger size (19.5 cm) sold at Christie`s London for £14,300 (one of the highest prices in the sale) in 1989, see : The Peony Pavilion Collection, Chinese Tea Ceramics for Japan (c.1580-1650). Christie`s London 12th June 1989 lot 318. The dish above is also illustrated in : Transitional Wares and Their Forerunners (The Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong, 1981) page 141, plate 167 and page 183 base.
Photos
Information
The Peony Pavilion Collection Catalogue (see below) notes "This is almost certainly a `special commission` from China, and originally very expensive. In view of the very bold colouring, it may be that it originally formed part of the ceramics for the daimyo-cha or `pretty` tea (Kirei-sabi) for aristocratic ladies, where such bright pieces would be more acceptable than in Rikyu-style austere tea".