Chinese blanc de chine figure group of weiqi players in a grotto, Kangxi (1662-1722)

Chinese blanc de chine figure group of three Go players, Kangxi (1662-1722), two figures seated on the ground on either side of the goban, one with his right hand outstretched as if to make a move, while another figure stands and looks on with his arms crossed, all before a rocky grotto and a tree.

A similar blanc de chine group can be found in the collection of the Museum Volkenkunde, Leiden (RV-5492-1) The ancient Chinese game of go ('weiqi') dates back millennia, the earliest known reference to it being in the historical annal Zuo Zhuan (written around the 4th century BC). The game came to be considered one of the four scholarly accomplishments of the literati, along with playing the weiqi, calligraphy and painting. Reference to these four accomplishments within Kangxi porcelain design was common, as during the political upheaval of the Ming and early Qing, the notions of traditional value and stability associated with the ancient scholars offered a connection to an idealised past. Encouraged by the Emperor’s own personal dedication to literati pursuits, Kangxi collectors valued wares that embodied the scholarly aesthetic and demonstrated their elevated intellectual and social status.

Dimensions

Price on application

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Condition report

Stock number