Lot 147 A Chinese blue and white 'Sage and Crane' plate

A Chinese blue and white 'Sage and Crane' plate

Wanli

未知

€ 2.500 – € 5.000

O: H. 4 cm, Diam. 20,5 cm

未知

A finely relief-potted Kraak plate with a moulded rim, painted in clear and vibrant tones of underglaze cobalt blue. The central medallion depicts a sage accompanied by a crane with a gently opened beak, turning towards its companion within a fenced rocky landscape. Beyond the enclosure, tranquil waters flow through a mountainous landscape, with the sun rising in the distance among curling clouds surrounding a rocky outcrop. The rim is decorated with eight characteristic cartouches, alternating depictions of peaches, pomegranates, flowers and auspicious emblems. These are separated by narrower panels enclosing stylised ruyi-heads tied with ribbons. The reverse is similarly divided into eight panels, each containing a cartouche alternating between peaches and lingzhi. The intervening narrow panels are decorated with stylised cloud motifs. This example is a fine representative of finely potted and exquisitely painted Kraak porcelain.
The crane represents longevity, immortality, and high rank, while the sage embodies wisdom and moral virtue. Together, they form an auspicious motif expressing wishes for a long, honourable, and enlightened life.
此件克拉克青花盤胎體精細，口沿模印起伏，通體以清麗明快的青花繪飾。盤心圓形開光內繪高士仙鶴圖：一位高士與仙鶴相伴，仙鶴喙部微張，回首望向高士。人物置身於圍欄環繞的山石園景之中，圍欄外水流平緩，遠處群山連綿，一輪旭日自卷雲與山石之間升起。
口沿分為八組典型開光，內交替繪桃實、石榴、花卉及吉祥雜寶，其間以狹長開光相隔，內飾綬帶束結的程式化如意雲頭紋。盤背同樣分為八組開光，內設小開光，交替繪桃實與靈芝，其間狹長開光則飾程式化雲紋。此盤胎質細緻，畫工精美，是克拉克青花瓷中的上乘之作。
仙鶴象徵長壽、成仙與高位，高士則代表智慧與德行。二者相配，寄託福壽綿長、品德高尚與人生通達的美好願望。
Provenance:
Marc Michot, Bruges.
The Mr. and Mrs. Baert-Devos Collection, Belgium. Acquired from the above in 1990 and accompanied by a copy of their original invoice. (see added scan)