尺寸
H: H. 29,9 cm, W. 11,2 cm, D. 11,2 cm (the tallest, incl. cover) | H: H. 29,2 cm (the smallest, incl. cover)
更多信息
A pair of blue and white square flasks, each of tall rectangular form with straight sides and gently rounded shoulders rising to a short cylindrical neck with a thickened, projecting rim. Each of the four sides is set with a panel framed by a key-fret border and painted in varying tones of underglaze cobalt blue with flowering prunus, lotus, chrysanthemum or peony, each accompanied by rockwork. The shoulders and neck are further decorated with scrolling lotus.
The base is largely unglazed, with a recessed glazed square at the centre bearing an underglaze-blue leaf mark. Each bottle retains its original circular plug-form cover, painted on the upper surface with a double-petalled flowerhead. The recessed underside fits securely within the mouth. The survival of both original covers is particularly rare.
These bottles belong to a distinctive group of Kangxi-period blue and white export porcelain produced for the European market during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Their tall square form may ultimately derive from European glass bottles, reflecting the exchange of forms and aesthetic ideas between China and Europe fostered by maritime trade through the Dutch East India Company (VOC).
一對青花方瓶,器身高挑呈四方形,四壁直立,肩部微弧,上承短直頸,口沿加厚外凸。器身四面各設開光,邊框飾回紋,開光內分別以濃淡青花繪梅花、荷花、菊花及牡丹,皆伴以山石,構成四面不同的花卉圖景。肩部及頸部環繪纏枝蓮。
底部大露胎,中央內凹方形區施釉,繪青花葉子款。原蓋呈圓形塞蓋式,蓋面以青花繪重瓣團花,內部凹入,可嵌入瓶口,保存至今尤為難得。
此類方瓶為十七世紀末至十八世紀初專為歐洲市場燒製的康熙青花外銷瓷,其高挑四方造型或受到歐洲玻璃瓶的影響,反映荷蘭東印度公司(VOC)海上貿易所促成的中歐器物造型與審美交流。
Literature:
For a discussion of the development of Chinese porcelain flasks and bottles inspired by European and Islamic prototypes, see Jessica Harrison-Hall, 'Catalogue of Late Yuan and Ming Ceramics in the British Museum'.
Provenance:
Luis Alegria, Porto, with their label to the base.
The Mr. and Mrs. Baert-Devos Collection, Belgium. Acquired from the above in 2009, according to the owner's inventory notes.
Exhibited:
TEFAF Maastricht, Luis Alegria, 2009.