A PAIR OF UNUSUAL BLUE AND WHITE BOWLS

KANGXI SIX-CHARACTER MARKS IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN A DOUBLE CIRCLE AND OF THE PERIOD (1662-1722)

细节

A PAIR OF UNUSUAL BLUE AND WHITE BOWLS
Kangxi six-character marks in underglaze blue within a double circle and of the period (1662-1722)
The exteriors painted in vivid and subtle shades of blue with a continuous scene of the Eighteen Learned Men of the Tang dynasty in various scholarly pursuits including playing weiqi, discussing philosophy and books, composing poems, writing calligraphy and playing the qin, all in a rocky landscape with pine and willow, the interior with a circular medallion enclosing a penzai pine tree in an hexagonal jardinière within a stylized lotus bloom, the inner rim with a band of four panels, each enclosing fruiting branches of pomegranate, peach, finger-citron and plum reserved on a diaper ground
8¼in. (20.9cm.) diam. (2)

拍品专文

The Eighteen Learned Men were personally selected from the most talented worthies of the Tang dynasty by the Taizhong emperor, and a special college was built for them within the palace grounds shortly after his accession in 627. There they sponsored discussions of policy and important events, in which the emperor took part. Depictions of The Eighteen Learned Men are usually portrayed in garden settings, with appropriate scholarly paraphernalia, and are comparable to scenes of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove.