A rare and massive blue and white scalloped dish, Qing dynasty, Kangxi (1662-1722).
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The flared sides with a scalloped rim is painted with eight panels of alternating figural and landscape design - the later with birds and insects amongst flowering trees and plants. The central panel is painted in underglaze tones of cobalt blue with a scene of two generals along with their armies before the closed gates of a city. On the ramparts are three figures - the central figure is considered to be Governor Liu Zhang and to his right Commander Dong He - who appear to be listening attentively to the warriors. Diameter 45.1 cm.
Minor fritting. Scattered touched up rim chips.
Provenance
Property of a private collector.
Purchased from Christies, "The William F Reilly Collection”, New York, 14 October 2009.
William F Reilly ( 1938 - 2008) an American publishing and media executive who was the founder and former chairman of Primedia. During Reilly’s time at the helm of Primedia, the firm built a collection of more than two hundred magazines that included American Baby, National Hog Farmer, Chicago and New York.
Exhibitions
Compare with a related dish of similar size, but with a different scene in the central panel, see The Groninger Museum Collection, Inventory No: 2019.0335.
Literature
Romance of the Three Kingdom, the 14th century historical novel by Luo Guanzhong, depicting the turbulent years at the end of the Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period in China.
More information
Taken from the later half of Chapter 65 of the “Romance of the Three Kingdom the scene depicts the surrender of Chengdu by Governor Liu Zhang. After the generals Ma Chao and his brother Ma Dai had surrendered to Liu Bei - courtesy name Xuande - they went to Yi Province to convince the governor, Liu Zhang, to also surrender. On hearing that his army had already been defeated Liu Zhang ordered the gates of the city be closed but mounted the north wall to face the two brothers. Here Ma Chao successfully persuaded Governor Liu Zhang to surrender the city and terrorities to Liu Bei rather than subject its people to further misery.