Lot 49 A pair of Chinese underglaze-blue, copper-red and celadon-glazed 'Dragon and Tiger' vases and covers

A pair of Chinese underglaze-blue, copper-red and celadon-glazed 'Dragon and Tiger' vases and covers

Kangxi

未知

€ 15.000 – € 25.000

H: H. 34,2 cm (incl. cover)

未知

A fine pair of baluster vases and covers, decorated in vibrant tones of underglaze cobalt blue, iron-red, and celadon glazes. Each vase is painted with a mountainous landscape, in which a fierce dragon emerges from swirling clouds to confront a tiger. Further within the landscape stands a majestic pine tree, accompanied by plants, lingzhi, and stylised rock formations. The vases are raised on a short foot rim, and the base bears an artemisia leaf mark within a double circle.
The covers are decorated with delicate flowering branches and are surmounted by blue-painted finials.
The confrontation between the dragon and tiger is a powerful auspicious motif in Chinese art, symbolising the balance of opposing forces, with the dragon representing strength, authority, and cosmic power, while the tiger embodies courage, protection, and earthly vitality. Together they express harmony between complementary forces and the triumph of power and virtue.
一對釉下三彩龍虎紋將軍罐。罐身呈豐肩鼓腹式，下腹漸收，下承矮圈足。通體以青花、釉裏紅及青釉繪山林景致，蒼龍自翻湧祥雲間騰躍而出，與山間猛虎相對，四周伴以蒼松、靈芝、花草及嶙峋山石。底部青花雙圈內繪葉子款。
原蓋繪纖細折枝花卉，頂置青花圓鈕。
龍虎相會是中國傳統藝術中極具力量感的吉祥題材。龍象徵權威、力量與天界陽氣，虎則代表勇武、護佑及大地生機，二者相對，寓意陰陽調和、天地相應，以及力量與德行並彰。
Provenance:
Marc Michot, Bruges.
The Mr. and Mrs. Baert-Devos Collection, Belgium. Acquired from the above in 2009, according to the owner's inventory notes.