With an underglaze blue six character mark hall mark to base. Decorated in underglaze blue with monkeys and deers and birds in a continuous landscape with pine trees. Diameter 18.5 cm. Height 10 cm.
From the collection of Karl Rientze Hugosson (1929-2015), thence by descent. Karl started his career at an early age in Gothenburg working for Swedish Customs; his work was within clearing antiques and works of art from abroad. At this time of course Gothenburg was an important port were much of the items from Europe arrived. This is where the passion for antiques and Asian art was born, and especially the interest in Chinese Works of Art that became a lifelong passion. After retirement he held lectures about Chinese porcelain and became a guide for travel agencies that took Swedish citizens to China. In an interview with Karl Hugosson in article in Antik & Auktion of 7/8 1992, he says ‘I had a first-row seat in the antique trade/ import during the era after World War II.
The Chinese character for 'monkey' (猴 hou) is a homophone of 'marquis' (侯 hou). Also, the word for maple in Chinese shares the same pronunciation as 'appointing' (封 feng). Hence, the depiction of a monkey sitting under a maple tree, as seen in the present lot, conveys a symbolic wish for promotion to a government position. Furthermore, the evergreen nature of the pine tree symbolises eternal youth and divine wisdom, serving as a symbol of enduring hope and the promise of renewal.