A LARGE KANGXI FAMILLE VERTE DISH KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722) ...

Hammer

£6,000

A LARGE KANGXI FAMILLE VERTE DISH
KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)
康熙五彩“穆桂英挂帥“ 圖紋大盤
with gently curving sides and everted border, brightly enamelled and gilt at the centre depicting a battle scene between three female warriors all of which are on horseback, being pursued by several male warriors, both mounted and on foot. The male figures with fierce expressions, wearing armour and brandishing halberds, the female figures wearing light clothing and holding swords. Two dignitaries and a bannerman stand in the background and observe the scene, which is set in a rocky landscape.  The border with six landscape cartouches is reserved on a trellis-pattern ground, the underside with an under glaze blue encircled leaf mark.
37cm diam.

NOTE: It is thought that the present dish is decorated with a narrative derived from the novel Yang jia jiang "The Generals of the Yang Family" written by Yong Damu during the Ming dynasty. The story set in the Song dynasty is a compilation of historic events interspersed with heroic anecdotes of the Yang women, including Guiying, a woman general who commanded her own army and re-captured the city of Youzhou previously fallen to the Liao cavalry. With Guiying’s wisdom and courage the Song army was able to defeat the Liao invasion. 

PROVENANCE: Acquired from Christie’s, London, “Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art: Including Export Art”, November 8 2005, Lot 77. 

RELATED EXAMPLE: An identical dish can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Salting Bequest, Museum No: C1221-1910 and in the catalogue of “ An important Collection of Chinese Porcelain: The Property of the Late Sir Alfred Aykroyd”, Sotheby & Co, London, 17th May 1966.

More Information

Rim with fritting and minor chips possibly with the rim ground down.