16th Oct, 2025 11:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism
158
AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE PEACHBLOOM-GLAZED ‘BEEHIVE’ WATER POT, TAIBAI ZUN, KANGXI MARK AND PERIOD
Sold for €13,000
including Buyer's Premium
Expert’s note: The neck of this tabaizun was intentionally reduced shortly after firing, most likely to accommodate larger brushes than the standard narrow-neck form. This purposeful alteration is not unique; compare a near-identical peachbloom-glazed water pot with dragon roundels, similarly lacking a neck, formerly in the Robert Lehman Collection and now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (acc. no. 1975.1.1696), which confirms the existence of such modified examples.
China, 1662-1722. The domed body incised with three highly stylized dragon roundels and covered in a glaze of greyish-red tone finely mottled in soft crushed-strawberry red in contrast to the white rim.
The recessed base left white and inscribed with an underglaze-blue six-character mark da Qing Kangxi nianzhi and of the period.
Provenance: Collection of Pierre Vellones, thence by descent in the family. Pierre Vellones (1889-1939), was a French composer known for his eclectic and inventive contributions to early 20th century music. A contemporary of Maurice Ravel and Erik Satie, Vellones was a part of the vibrant French musical scene in the interwar period. Though he trained in medicine and served as a military doctor during World War I, his true passion lay in music. He composed a wide variety of works including orchestral suites, piano miniatures, chamber music, and vocal pieces.
Condition: Good condition with minor old wear and firing irregularities, including slight pitting to the base, a tiny nick to the rim, a few minuscule hairlines, and light surface scratches. The neck was intentionally reduced after firing; see expert’s note above.
Weight: 497 g (excl. stand), 711 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Diameter 12.6 cm
With a fitted carved wood stand. (2)
Water pots of this form are known as taibai zun, after the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai, who is often depicted leaning against a large wine jar of similar form. They are also known as qizhao zun because their shape resembles that of a chicken coop.
#expert video FAS1025
Expert’s note: The neck of this tabaizun was intentionally reduced shortly after firing, most likely to accommodate larger brushes than the standard narrow-neck form. This purposeful alteration is not unique; compare a near-identical peachbloom-glazed water pot with dragon roundels, similarly lacking a neck, formerly in the Robert Lehman Collection and now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (acc. no. 1975.1.1696), which confirms the existence of such modified examples.
China, 1662-1722. The domed body incised with three highly stylized dragon roundels and covered in a glaze of greyish-red tone finely mottled in soft crushed-strawberry red in contrast to the white rim.
The recessed base left white and inscribed with an underglaze-blue six-character mark da Qing Kangxi nianzhi and of the period.
Provenance: Collection of Pierre Vellones, thence by descent in the family. Pierre Vellones (1889-1939), was a French composer known for his eclectic and inventive contributions to early 20th century music. A contemporary of Maurice Ravel and Erik Satie, Vellones was a part of the vibrant French musical scene in the interwar period. Though he trained in medicine and served as a military doctor during World War I, his true passion lay in music. He composed a wide variety of works including orchestral suites, piano miniatures, chamber music, and vocal pieces.
Condition: Good condition with minor old wear and firing irregularities, including slight pitting to the base, a tiny nick to the rim, a few minuscule hairlines, and light surface scratches. The neck was intentionally reduced after firing; see expert’s note above.
Weight: 497 g (excl. stand), 711 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Diameter 12.6 cm
With a fitted carved wood stand. (2)
Water pots of this form are known as taibai zun, after the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai, who is often depicted leaning against a large wine jar of similar form. They are also known as qizhao zun because their shape resembles that of a chicken coop.
#expert video FAS1025
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