A Pair of Rare Chinese Kangxi Blue and White Flasks and Covers, Kangxi (1662 - 1722)
Height: 13 inches, 33 cms.
BH49
BH49
Further images
Painted in underglaze cobalt blue on the body with four scenes, from the drama, Autumn in the Han Palace, each panel framed with triangular work, the short neck with floral...
Painted in underglaze cobalt blue on the body with four scenes, from the drama, Autumn in the Han Palace, each panel framed with triangular work, the short neck with floral sprays, the lid in the form of a truncated pyramid decorated with ruyi heads and surmounted with a lion, the base unglazed except for an inset glazed square, which contains the mark of an artemisia leaf.
Literature
Autumn in the Han Palace is a fictional rendition of the historical story of Wang Zhaojun, a concubine of the Han Emperor Yuan. Written by Ma Zhiyuan, a celebrated playwright during the Yuan dynasty, the drama enjoyed high popularity in the late Ming to early Qing periods. Many scripts with illustrations were published. The paintings on these square vases would have been inspired by these illustrations.
See from top left to right:
- Zhaojun seated with attendants enjoying a performance by four musicians and a dancer at the inner palace (top left).
- The Han Emperor surrounded by attendant and courtiers gives audience to an envoy of the nomadic Xiongnu who relays his king's request for Zhaojun to be his consort together with of threats invasion. The Han Emperor and his court officials are terrified. Outside the wall a dappled grey horse stamps the ground impatiently (top right).
- The Han Emperor with two attendants greets Zhaojun who agrees to sacrifice herself for peace. In the foreground musicians play softly. Zhaojun bids farewell to the Han Emperor and sets off for a long journey to the north (bottom right).
- In the freezing cold escorted by attendants and soldiers riding on frisky dappled grey horses, the brave and determined Zhaojun sets out on the long journey carrying her favourite pipa (bottom left).
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, has one example, depicting scenes from Autumn in the Han Palace. The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, has one example from the Salting Bequest, on display, similar to ours (link) with scenes from Autumn in the Han Palace. The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, has a pair, similar to ours, (link) the story said to be from another classic named as The Yang-jia-jiang yanji, which tells the story of a female warrior Mu Guiying,
