Lot 7 A Chinese blue and white 'Toad' ewer

A Chinese blue and white 'Toad' ewer

Wanli

未知

€ 8.000 – € 12.000

WH: H. 15,5 cm, W. 15 cm (Incl. handle)

未知

A porcelain ewer shaped as a toad, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue. The skin stippled on a blue-washed ground reserved with prunus flower heads. The toad's head is modelled with bulbous eyes, the cylindrical mouth forming the spout. The back has an open aperture with a gently flaring rim, between a replaced upright metal loop handle. The flat base is left unglazed.
The toad is an auspicious motif in Chinese art, associated with wealth, longevity, and the moon. Such imagery may have carried wishes for prosperity and long life.
一件中國青花蟾蜍形執壺。壺身模塑作蟾蜍形，淡青花地上以點狀紋表現皮膚質感，間飾留白梅花。蟾首雙目圓凸，筒形口部作流；背部設敞口注孔，口沿微撇，兩側安後配直立金屬環形提梁。平底露胎。
蟾蜍為中國傳統藝術中的吉祥題材，與財富、長壽及月亮密切相關，寄託招財納福、延年益壽的美好願望。
Reference:
An identical example, with handle, was in the Morpurgo Collection, sold by Sotheby's London, 8 November 2018, lot 10 and currently with Marchant. (sold GBP 47.500) (link)
Another example with handle is in the Idemitsu Museum of Art, Japan, illustrated in 'Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Museum Collection', no. 829.
Provenance:
Vanderven Oriental Art, 's Hertogenbosch.
The Mr. and Mrs. Baert-Devos Collection, Belgium. Acquired from the above on 1 September 1989 and accompanied by a copy of their original invoice and taxation rapport. (see added scans)