Beschreibung:

Lot details Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價 Expert’s note: For an interesting discussion of porcelain produced during the short period from December 1915 to February 1916 when General Yuan Shikai adopted the reign title Hongxian in an attempt to restore the monarchy to China, see the article by Simon Kwan, 'Hongxian Porcelain and the Role of Wang Xiaotang', published in Orientations, October, 1991, pp. 65-70. In particular, the author notes that a batch of Hongxian-marked porcelain wares was most likely indeed produced for Yuan Shikai. The painting on the present porcelain vase is of the highest quality. The painter not only executed the meticulous wrinkles and folds of Li Tieguai’s skin with a deft hand, but he also painted the clothes with an intricate pattern and shaded the rocks with remarkable mastery. This vase belongs to a rare group of grisaille-decorated porcelain from the Republic period which were decorated by the most skilled painters in Jingdezhen, of which there were exceedingly few left at that time. China, c. 1915-1930. Delicately potted, the ovoid body supported on a short foot and rising to a gently rounded shoulder with a waisted neck and flared mouth. Superbly painted to the exterior in predominantly iron-red and grisaille with Li Tieguai leaning on his iron crutch as he sits on a dramatically cragged and pierced rock under a towering tree with gnarled branches, before a flaming brazier with his double gourd placed on top, surrounded by further vessels and implements. The base with an iron-red four-character seal mark Hongxian nianzhi within a double square. Provenance: From the collection of Dr. Wou Kiuan. Wou Lien-Pai Museum, coll. no. Q.3.16. Dr. Wou Kiuan (1910-1997) was a Chinese diplomat and noted scholar of Chinese art. His father, Wou Lien-Pai (1873-1944), was one the leading political figures of early 20th century China, remembered for his role as speaker and leader of parliament during the turbulent years of the Republican era. Dr. Wou himself embarked on an illustrious career in diplomacy until his retirement in 1952, when he settled in London and devoted the rest of his life to the study of Chinese art. It was no doubt fortuitous that Dr. Wou’s years of collecting coincided with an abundant availability of exceptional Chinese art on the London market. From the mid-1950s to the late 1960s he was able to form a collection of well over 1,000 works that together represented virtually every category of Chinese art. At the heart of Dr. Wou’s drive to collect was a burning desire to preserve the relics of China’s rich historical past scattered across Europe, and to promote Chinese art and culture. It is unclear when Dr. Wou conceived the idea to create a place to house his collection, but in 1968, he opened the doors to the Wou Lien-Pai Museum, named in honor of his father. Over the years the museum became a ‘must see’ destination for collectors, academics, and visiting dignitaries, and Dr. Wou would delight in leading his visitors through the galleries, recounting stories of China’s glorious history. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and firing irregularities, the body with a fine and short hairline. Weight: 553.5 g Dimensions: Height 20 cm Please click here to read the full description Yuan Shikai (1859-1916) was the first President of the Republic of China and Emperor of the short-lived Empire of China (1915-1916), taking the era name Hongxian. In 1916, Guo Baochang, an antiques dealer with a good relation to the court, was appointed to oversee Hongxian’s new imperial porcelain production. The intent from the outset was that the items produced were to be of excellent quality. The biscuit used was very thin, the enamels were sent from the Imperial Workshops and the mark used was a red seal reading Juren Tang zhi. The quality of items produced was reputed to be excellent. Unfortunately, during production, because of the very thin biscuit, many objects were damage