A LARGE CHINESE WUCAI 'BAXIAN' BALUSTER VASE AND COVER

SHUNZHI 1644-61

Decorated with the Eight Immortals in a rocky wooded landscape, they watch a figure dressed in a colourful robe performing a magic trick, his breath transforming into a dragon and phoenix, with further figures in conversation to the side, the scene divided by swirling clouds and set beneath a band of cracked-ice, with sprays of chrysanthemum and peony to the short neck, the cover painted with three boys at play, together with a wood stand, 49.5cm. (3)

Provenance: from a British private collection, purchased from Sotheby's Amsterdam on 18th May 2004, lot 131. A copy of the invoice is available.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession no.61.200.62 for a Kangxi period yen yen vase decorated with a similar scene; see also Christie's New York, 21st September 2004, lot 271 for a Transitional baluster vase of the same scale painted with the Eight Immortals and similarly decorated with boys to the cover.

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