Blue-and-White Porcelain Brush Pot with Design of Figures
Kangxi reign Period of Qing Dynasty (1662—1722AD)
Height: 16.1cm; Diameter of Mouth: 18.3cm; Diameter of Bottom: 17.5cm
Collected in 1956.
The design of the brush pot describes the scene of the “Interrogation of the Maid” in the Romance of the West Chamber which is one of the most famous Chinese dramatic works written in the Tang Dynasty. Depicted in this brush pot are three figures, a young lady standing outside of the door anxiously peeking into the study room, an old lady sitting on a chair and a maid raising up her hands, kneeling on the floor and explaining something to the old lady.
Partial design of the brush pot
Partial design of the brush pot
Partial design of the brush pot
Blue-and-white porcelain is renowned as the "ever-lasting blue flower”, and is most famous among the four traditional types of porcelain produced in Jiangdezhen. It was introduced during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368AD) and has been in production ever since thanks to its bright colors, simple yet elegant patterns, and smooth glaze that never fades. The blue-and-white glaze of the Kangxi reign period features five pronounced shades of density, which finds its full expression in this brush pot.
The bottom of the brush pot
As usual, the brush pot bears an inscription of “produced in the Kangxi reign Period of Qing Dynasty” in regular script at the bottom.
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About Romance of the West Chamber
Romance of the West Chamber, also translated as The Story of the Western Wing, is one of the most famous Chinese dramatic works. It was written by the Yuan Dynasty playwright Wang Shifu, and set during the Tang Dynasty. Known as "China’s most popular love comedy," it is the story of a young couple consummating their love without parental approval, and has been seen both as a "lover’s bible" and "potentially lethal," as readers were in danger of pining away under its influence.
Romance of the West Chamber tells that a young scholar Zhang Sheng went to the capital city to take the highest imperial examination. When he stayed in a temple, he met Cui Yingying, daughter of the then Prime Minister and fell in love with her. At that time, a group of robbers besieged them. Yingying’s mother declared that she would marry her daughter to whoever could save them. Zhang Sheng managed to do that with his friend’s help. But her mother refused to keep her words because he was poor. However, Yingying and Zhang Sheng loved each other very much. With the help of Hong Niang, Yingying’s maid, they broke down the traditional barrier.
Since the emergence of this play in the thirteenth century, it has enjoyed unparalleled popularity. The play has given rise to innumerable sequels, parodies, and rewritings; it has influenced countless later plays, short stories, and novels and has played a crucial role in the development of drama criticism. (Edited from Wikipedia)
Five-colored Gu (wine vessel) with Design of Figures in Romance of the West Chamber
Shunshi reign Period of Qing Dynasty
Height: 44.8cm; Diameter at Mouth: 21.3cm; Diameter at Bottom: 14.4cm
From the collection of Shanghai Museum
