The Property of a Lady 女士藏品
Lot 112
A rare and extensive blue and white 'Romance of the Western Chamber' dinner-service Qianlong, circa 1740
7 November 2019, 10:30 GMT
London, New Bond Street£30,000 - £50,000
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Chinese Art (UK)
Chinese Art (HK)
Asaph Hyman
Global Head of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
Dessa Goddard
Senior Vice President, US Head, Asian Art Group
Colin Sheaf
Consultant
Shipping (UK)
Rachel Hyman
Department Director
Asian Art (AUS)
A rare and extensive blue and white 'Romance of the Western Chamber' dinner-service
Qianlong, circa 1740
Each piece vividly painted with a scene from the Romance of the Western Chamber, depicting scholar Zhang playing the guqin while Yingying and Hongniang listen, comprising: two tureens, covers and stands; two tureen stands; two butter dishes, covers and stands; two sauce boats, covers and leaf-shaped stands; nine small circular dishes; five small foliate-rim dishes; one hot plate; six meat platters; five large circular dishes; nine circular plates; eleven foliate rim dishes; two very large foliate rime plates; seven large foliate rim plates; fifty one foliate rim plates. The largest stand, 44cm (14 1/3in) wide. (124).
Each piece vividly painted with a scene from the Romance of the Western Chamber, depicting scholar Zhang playing the guqin while Yingying and Hongniang listen, comprising: two tureens, covers and stands; two tureen stands; two butter dishes, covers and stands; two sauce boats, covers and leaf-shaped stands; nine small circular dishes; five small foliate-rim dishes; one hot plate; six meat platters; five large circular dishes; nine circular plates; eleven foliate rim dishes; two very large foliate rime plates; seven large foliate rim plates; fifty one foliate rim plates. The largest stand, 44cm (14 1/3in) wide. (124).
Footnotes
清乾隆，約十八世紀四十年代 青花西廂記人物故事圖餐具一組
Provenance: a European private collection
來源：歐洲私人收藏
Each piece depicts scenes from the popular 13th century drama Xixiang Ji (西廂記), or 'The Romance of the Western Chamber'. The play narrates a secret love affair between the young scholar Zhang Sheng, and Cui Yingying, daughter of a chief minister.
Although scholar Zhang and Cui Yingying fell in love with each other at a Buddhist monastery, Cui Yingying's mother disapproved of the match because of Zhang's low station. Yingying's maid Hongniang, however, took pity on them and arranged to bring them together in a secret union. When Yingying's mother discovered what had happened, she reluctantly agreed to a formal marriage on the condition that Zhang must pass the Civil Service examination. To the joy of the young lovers, Zhang Sheng passes, is appointed to high office, and the two are finally married.
Compare with a very similar blue and white dinner service, Qianlong, but slightly smaller with 120 pieces, which was sold at Sotheby's New York, 21 January 2011, lot 27.
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