Lot 91 An unusual Chinese blue and white 'Deer' ewer

An unusual Chinese blue and white 'Deer' ewer

Transitional period

未知

€ 20.000 – € 40.000

WH: H. 20,9 cm, W. 24,5 cm

未知

The ewer is potted with a short neck, rounded shoulders, and a tapering globular body supported on a foot rim, with an S-curved spout applied to one side. Four original holes are pierced through the shoulders, likely intended for the attachment of handles, possibly in metal. The body is painted in underglaze cobalt blue with a continuous landscape depicting a herd of deer roaming through woodland. Some gaze into the distance, while others graze or move in groups among ancient trees, streams, rocks, and vegetation. The shoulder is encircled by a lotus scroll reserved in white against a blue ground. The base is glazed within an unglazed foot rim.
In Chinese culture, the word for deer, lu (鹿), is a homophone of lu (祿), denoting official emolument and prosperity. This auspicious symbolism is integrated into an evocative woodland landscape, in which the deer are depicted in varied poses. The skilfully balanced composition is freely and vividly painted, imbuing the scene with a strong sense of natural vitality.
壺直口，短頸，圓肩，鼓腹漸收，下承圈足，一側置曲流。腹部以青花通景繪群鹿漫遊山林，或昂首遠望，或低首覓食，或結伴而行，穿行於古樹、溪流、山石與草木之間。頸部飾如意雲紋，肩部以青花留白環繪纏枝蓮紋。底部施釉，圈足露胎。
鹿在中國傳統文化中與「祿」同音，寓意福祿與仕途通達。此器將吉祥寓意融入幽深山水之中，群鹿姿態各異，構圖疏密相間，率意生動而富有自然情趣。
Provenance:
Luis Alegria, Porto, with their label to the base.
The Mr. and Mrs. Baert-Devos Collection, Belgium, acquired from the above in 2000.