Emperor Kangxi reigned from 1662-1722, the longest reign in Chinese history. It was a prosperous time for the nation in economics and trade as well as in the arts; it was a great period of production of high quality porcelain never seen before.
The exhibition comprises a variety of forms, including 8 ‘mark and period’ pieces, many with copper-red details. Although none of the pieces are cyclically dated, the exhibition has been arranged in chronological order to the best ability; the basin (no.2), is dated 1670-1673 because of the similar dated example in the Percival David Collection at the British Museum and is a highlight in the earlier section. Early style and technique can be identified by bold freehand painting as seen with the imperial fish bowl (no.7), which has impeccable provenance, formerly in the O’Byrne Collection, the Sachot Collection and was exhibited in The Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition, The Animals in Chinese Art, 1968.
Key elements of Kangxi porcelain are the Chinese taste landscape scenes (no.17) and identifiable stories from Chinese literature, such as on this bowl, (no.18) with four scenes from Romance of the Western Chamber. Previously unknown forms emerged, such as the phoenix tail vase, yan yan, (no.29) painted with the ‘Eight Horses of Mu Wang’.
The exhibition will be held at Marchant’s gallery at 120 Kensington Church Street, from 2nd-18th November, coinciding with Asian Art Week in London, 3rd-12th November 2016.
A catalogue will be available, priced £100 (incl. p&p within the UK or EU). The catalogue will also be online on Marchant’s website, www.marchantasianart.com.
Gallery & Exhibition opening times:
Monday – Friday 10:00-18:00
Saturday 5th Nov 11:00-20:00, late night opening
Sunday 6th Nov 11:00-18:00
Above: no.2 – Chinese porcelain blue and white and underglaze copper-red basin painted on the interior with a large praying mantis on rockwork. 14 ¼ inches, 36.2 cm diameter.
Early Kangxi, circa 1670-1673.
• Acquired from Marchant, London, 28th May 1985.
No.7 – Chinese imperial porcelain blue and white and underglaze copper-red deep bowl, wan, painted with a carp leaping from crested waves beneath the sun, the exterior with three further carp. 7 ¾ inches, 19.8 cm diameter.
The base with a six-character mark of Kangxi within a double ring and of the period, circa 1680.
Wood stand.
• Formerly in the O’Byrne Collection.
• Exhibited at The Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition, The Animals in Chinese Art, 1968, no. 507.
• Formerly in the Sachot Collection, France.
No.17 – Chinese porcelain blue and white vase, ping, of baluster form with cylindrical ribbed neck and gently flared rim, painted with a continuous mountain river landscape scene with two scholars and attendant carrying a wrapped qin
17 5/8 inches, 44.8 cm high.
Kangxi, circa 1700.
Wood stand.
• Formerly in a private Parisian collection.
• Included by Michel Beurdeley and Guy Raindre in Qing Porcelain, 1986, no. 53, colour page p. 49.
• From a private American collection, San Francisco.
