A blue and white 'Yuhuchunping' vase, Qing dynasty, 17th century.
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The pear-shaped vase is decorated with a finely drawn scene of Sholaou on his deer on one side, the other side with buddai surrounded by attendants, intersperced with shou characters, peaches and flowers. Height 30.5 cm.
Repairs.
Exhibitions
There are a group of items with this kind of decoration with buddhist figures in the British Museum, Museum number
Franks.325.+ (with an Amithaba buddha).
Compare also a piece sold at Sothebys, KANGXI: The Jie Rui Tang Collection, 20 March 2018, New York. Lot no 388.
Also compare a bowl in the collection of the Chicago Institute of Art, Credit Line. Bequest of Henry C. Schwab. Reference Number; 1941.570.
More information
The decoration on this early Kangxi-period vase depicts a scene known from transitional porcelain dating from Tianqi/Chongzhen.
The freedom from Imperial restrictions enjoyed at Jingdezhen after 1608 encouraged potters to paint wider varieties of designs including scenes with great precision and fine details with the use of the varying shades of cobalt-blue. The present vase demonstrates this extremely well with some very fine detailed designs and intricate details.
Budai, depicted on this vase was an important monk from the Five Dynasties period that is said to have had magic powers. he is often seen as the human form of Maitreya.