Lot 50 A pair of Chinese blue and white 'Mythical Beast' jars with later wooden covers and stands

A pair of Chinese blue and white 'Mythical Beast' jars with later wooden covers and stands

Kangxi

未知

€ 8.000 – € 12.000

H: H. 27,5 cm (incl. cover and stand) | H: H. 20,5 cm (excl. cover and stand)

未知

A pair of ovoid jars with rounded shoulders rising to short tapering necks, finely painted in vibrant and lustrous shades of underglaze cobalt blue. The bodies are decorated with a continuous scene depicting three mythical creatures seated upon rugged rock formations emerging from a turbulent, swirling sea. Flames issue from their open mouths, while three further pointed peaks rise dramatically in the background.
The three mythical creatures appear to be related to the qilin, although they lack the characteristic cloven hooves usually associated with the qilin. They may instead represent xiezhi, another auspicious horned beast, distinguished by a more feline appearance, powerful body, and fierce expression.
一對青花瑞獸紋罐，器身呈卵形，圓肩，上承短束頸。通體以鮮麗明亮的青花繪海水瑞獸圖，三隻瑞獸分踞於驚濤駭浪間突起的嶙峋山石之上，昂首張口，口中吐出火焰，遠處另有三座尖峰聳立，畫面氣勢雄奇。
畫中瑞獸形態與麒麟相近，惟未見麒麟典型的偶蹄特徵，或為另一種獨角瑞獸 ‘獬豸’。獬豸通常具有近似獅虎的外形、強健的身軀與威猛神態，在中國傳統文化中象徵公正、明辨是非、辟邪護佑與祥瑞。
Provenance:
The Mr. and Mrs. Baert-Devos Collection, Belgium. Acquired in 1987, according to the owner's inventory notes.