Pair of Chinese blue and white bottle vases, Kangxi (1662-1722)

Pair of Chinese blue and white bottle vases, Kangxi (1662-1722), of bulbous form with tall columnar necks, the bodies and necks decorated in bright underglaze cobalt blue with a continuous design of foliage and stylised flower heads; the shoulders with wide bands containing floral scrolls in white against a blue ground, the rims with narrow bands of either geometric hatch-pattern or half-prunus blossom against a wave-pattern ground, the feet with a double circle and bases marked ‘G’ in underglaze blue.

Condition: Good

Notes:

Very similar vases can be found in the collection of the V&A; one with a band of half-prunus blossom against a wave-pattern to the rim (276-1886) and an example with geometric hatch-pattern band also with a ‘G’ mark to the base from the Salting Bequest (C.783-1910). A similar pair from the collection of Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks (1826-97) are now in the British Museum (Franks.358.+) and a further example is illustrated in Jörg, Christiaan J.A. in collaboration with Van Campen, Jan (1997) 'Chinese Ceramics in the Collection of the Rijksmuseum', Phillip Wilson and the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, London and Amsterdam, p.259 plate 298.

The unusual ‘G’ mark can be found on other pieces, both blue and white and famille verte, exported to Europe during this period. Such examples include a pair of famille verte bottle vases in the collection of the Rijksmuseum and illustrated in the work detailed above (p.260, no.299); a pot in the collection of the Groninger Museum (Mello Backer Bequest 1899), and a famille verte hexagonal teacup at the British Museum, from the collection of Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks (Franks.894). Professor Jörg supports the theory of this ‘G’ mark corresponding with a particular person, probably a Dutch merchant in the 17th century, citing the similar use of a single initial to a group of blue and white Japanese apothecary bottles (p.259).

Provenance:

C. T. Loo & Co., Paris and New York Collection of Fredrick J. (d. 1968) and Antoinette H. (d. 1987) Van Slyke, Baltimore Sotheby's New York, May 31, 1989, lot 113 [with] Ralph M. Chait Galleries, New York (acquired from the above) Wolf Family Collection No. 0976 (acquired from the above on May 31, 1989)

Dimensions

Price on application

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Condition report

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