214.
A ‘MILK AND BLOOD’ ROULEAU BALUSTER VASE
Qing dynasty, Kangxi period, early 18th century
… cm high
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina, Placido de Sangro (1829-1891) collection.
inv. n. …..
The style of the decoration on this vase – with a multitude of birds flying amidst the ‘Three Friends of Winter’ (suihan sanyou, pine, bamboo and plum), the elements of the composition freely arranged on the whole surface of the body without any geometric or floral frame – clearly reveals an inspiration from Ming dynasty paintings with a ‘birds and flowers’ subject.
Compare for example the decoration on this vase to the well known masterpiece by the court artist Bian Wenjin (active early fifteenth century), entitled Three Friends and One Hundred Birds, dated to 1413 and now in the National Palace Museum in Taipei.
