A GOOD FAMILLE VERTE ROULEAU VASE KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)...

1/2

Hammer

£24,000

Fees

A GOOD FAMILLE VERTE ROULEAU VASE
KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)
康熙五彩人物故事圖紋瓶
this vase of cylindrical body is supported on a spreading foot, widening towards a rounded shoulder, which leads to a wide neck with an upright mouth rim. The neck is decorated with a mountain river scene whilst the body presents a well painted continuous narrative scene which is considered to be taken from the Beijing opera Hong Zong Lie Ma - “Spirited Horse with a Red Mane”.

The opera tells the story of the beggar Xue Pinggui, who gained the favour of the Tang Emperor Yizong after he tamed a fierce red-maned horse. He was subsequently commissioned and sent to Xiliang to settle a revolt. The scene on the vase probably shows the emperor sending Xue Pinggui off to battle. Next to Xue Pinggui is considered to be his future brother-in-law Wei Hu, who was in fact scheming to cause harm to Xue Pinggui as he and his family did not want Xue to marry his sister, Wang Baochuan. The famous red maned horse, responsible for the emperor’s favour, can be viewed in the lower section of the vase.
45.7cm high

PROVENACE: Acquired from Piasa, Paris, “Asian Art”, 10 December 2008, Lot 83.