A FINE CHINESE DOUBLE GOURD VASE , Kangxi (1662-1722)
Height: 25.5 cm; 10 in.
BJ72
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Of double gourd form, the globular body rising from a short tapering foot, with the unusual decoration of both underglaze blue and famille verte enamels, the lower gourd decorated in...
Of double gourd form, the globular body rising from a short tapering foot, with the unusual decoration of both underglaze blue and famille verte enamels, the lower gourd decorated in bright famille verte enamels, painted with two rectangular panels, one enclosing a mountainous landscape scene of a scholar and attendant, a gilt sun overhead, the other panel with a songbird perching on a blossoming magnolia branch, all reserved on a floret green dot ground further decorated with colourful butterflies and magnolia blooms, the upper gourd distinctively modelled in two tiered lobes, the lower lobe painted with quatrefoil cartouches enclosing fruits and flowers, the upper lobe painted in with pendant stylised ruyi panels, with flowers reserved against a blue ground, the tall slender neck painted with floral medallions reserved on a diaper band and pendant flower-filled lappets, all in rich cobalt-blue tones.
Provenance
With Mallett, London, May 1936 (as recorded in the RHRP ledger).
The Reginald and Lena Palmer Collection, no. 444 (according to label and as recorded in the RHRP ledger).
R.H.R. Palmer Collection
Reginald Howard Reed Palmer (1898-1970) was chairman of Huntley & Palmer from 1948-1963. The Palmers lent 35 pieces to the Oriental Ceramic Society's Exhibition of Enamelled Polychrome Porcelain of the Manchu Dynasty, 1957, and 6 ceramics to its The Arts of the Ch'ing Dynasty 1964.
Some of Palmer's collection was also sold at auction. The first sale was at Sotheby's in 1962, consisting of 63 lots of very good Ming and 19 Qing ceramics. In May 2009 they sold a fish jar at auction for £1.1million.