A Large Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Brush Pot, Bitong, Transitional Period, 17th Century
明末清初過渡期青花人物故事圖筆筒

Transitional Period, 17th Century

The cylindrical sides finely painted in sapphire blue with a continuous scene of an official with attendants being presented with a jue, on a fenced terrace enclosed by plantain trees, pine, rocky mountains, and a river, the scene below a lightly incised band of scrollwork within double-line borders around the mouth rim, an additional incised double line above the foot, the lip unglazed, the glaze pooling to a pale blue; raised on a later fitted hardwood stand.
Note:
The scene in the present work is likely based on a woodblock illustration from one of the many printed books that were entering the market during the late Ming period. For other forms where an attendant is making an offering to an official surrounded by additional attendants and figures, see the vase, p. 220, no. Ill.2.51a,b, and the brush pot p. 224, Ill.2.53 illustrated in Theresa Canepa and Katherine Butler, "Leaping the Dragon Gate, The Sir Michael Butler Collection of Seventeenth Century Porcelain, London, 2021.

For a slightly smaller 8 1/4-inch-high brush pot, see the example sold at Christie's, London, on May 18, 2007, lot 24. See also the 9-inch brush pot sold at Christie's, New York, September 18, 2003, lot 299. Both of those are slightly waisted examples, for a cylindrical example, like the present brush pot, but with slightly broader proportions, compare the 8 1/8 inch high brush pot sold at Christie's, London, June 11, 2004, lot 118.

Height 8 1/2 in., 21.5 cm.

Property from a Private Collection, Washington, D.C.

Provenance:

Property from a Private Collection, Washington, D.C., acquired in Hong Kong, circa 1990 (prior to October 30, 1995, when it was valued for insurance purposes with other objects in the present owner's collection).

來源：

華盛頓特區私人收藏，1990-1995年間購自香港。

Overall very good visual condition considering age and use; area of overpainting to the rim (see condition images), small glaze skip to interior, a few scattered scratches and light abrasions; a few scattered minor potting and glaze flaws; Firing crack to underside; under Uv light no additional repairs or restorations seen.

Additional photos are updated before the sale via this link (asian.smugmug.com/Sale-6418). Please read the above or contact us to request a complete condition report.
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The absence of a posted condition report on the Freeman's website or in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have requested, received and understood any condition report provided by Freeman's.

Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Annie Wu

Senior Vice President, Head of Department, Asian Art

[email protected]312.447.3260

Ms. Wu joined the firm in 2014, after working as a specialist in the Asian Works of Art Department of an East Coast auction house. She researches, appraises, and sells Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and South East Asian works of art, including jades, bronzes, ceramics, paintings, armor, and furniture. Throughout her career, Ms. Wu has achieved record prices for several prominent estates and collections, including the Estate of Frank G. Mertes, Sr., Winona, Minnesota; the Chinese Painting Collection of Ms. Yuan Jiaying and Mr. Li Guoyuan, Chicago; the Estate of Hisazo Nagatani, Chicago, and the Asian Art Collection deaccessioned from the Strong Museum of Play, Rochester, New York.

Asian Works of Art

A Large Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Brush Pot, Bitong, Transitional Period, 17th Century明末清初過渡期 青花人物故事圖筆筒

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**A Large Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Brush Pot, Bitong, Transitional Period, 17th Century
明末清初過渡期青花人物故事圖筆筒**