CHINA - YUAN Dynasty (1279 - 1368), 14th CENTURY - Lot 117

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Lot n° 117
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Estimation :
80000 - 90000 EUR
CHINA - YUAN Dynasty (1279 - 1368), 14th CENTURY - Lot 117
CHINA - YUAN Dynasty (1279 - 1368), 14th CENTURY Large porcelain polylobed rim dish decorated in blue underglaze with a fish swimming in seaweed in a central medallion, the cavetto decorated with a register of peony scrolls molded in reserve on a blue background, the flat wing decorated with lingzhi scrolls molded in reserve. The reverse decorated with lotus panels. (Broken and restored with gold lacquer). Diam. 59.5 cm This large porcelain dish features a central underglaze blue decoration of a fish swimming in seaweed. This type of dish can be associated with a group characterized by a rather naturalistic central decoration surrounded by sober ornamentation. The realistic aspect of the decoration gives us a dating key. Indeed, from the point of view of ceramic decoration, the Yuan dynasty can be seen as a pivotal period between the symbolic, stylized aesthetics of the Song (960-1279) and the refined realism that emerged under the Ming (1368-1644). Fish decorations were very popular under the Yuan. The seaweed in which the fish swims is depicted with a realism that makes it possible to identify four species: the round leaves linked by rhizomes are probably small water lilies floating on the surface, the long, undulating leaves are reminiscent of eelgrass, the long, shaggy leaves are reminiscent of submerged ceratophylla, and the shaggy clusters linked by rhizomes are from the chara family. The dish's cavetto is decorated in relief with peony flowers in a technique that creates a white-on-blue effect, the opposite of the traditional blue and white. One explanation for the use of this technique may be that cobalt oxide was, at the time, a rare and expensive pigment, imported from Central Asia. What's more, cobalt oxide is not easy to work with, as it needs to be ground to a powder and properly diluted before it can be applied with a brush. By leaving the decoration in reserve, it is easier and more economical to apply cobalt only to small background areas. On some dishes, like ours, the background is simply hatched with cobalt blue in a wave pattern. With this type of decoration, the cobalt blue applied to the slightly recessed background gives the impression of being inlaid into the porcelain. Molded decorations in white on blue are attested in Jingdezhen as early as 1320, thanks to shards found in the wreck sunk off Sinan on the Korean coast and discovered in 1976. It's interesting to note that all large dishes with white-on-blue decoration feature a polylobed rim, as is the case on our dish. The aesthetics of blue and white, considered polychrome (in contrast to the monochromes of the Song period), did not immediately meet with unanimous approval in learned circles under the Yuan. What's more, the Jingdezhen kilns were under foreign domination at the time. Moreover, it would appear that the Mongol rulers were not interested in porcelain, although they undoubtedly encouraged trade in it. The first blue and white pieces were therefore produced for a middle Eastern clientele. This influence can be seen in the shapes, particularly in large-format dishes such as the one shown here. The size of our dish is particularly exceptional: it is 59.5 cm in diameter, when dishes of this type are usually between 45 and 48 cm. The Ardebil Shrine collection donated by Shah Abbas and the Topkapi Saray collection in Istanbul remain the two reference collections for Yuan porcelain today. A similar dish with central phoenix decoration is kept at Ardebil. Only one other example with a central fish motif and a cavetto molded in reserve with peonies is known. It belonged to the collections of T.T Tsui and Sir Joseph Hotung and was sold by Sotheby's, Hong Kong, on October 8, 2022, lot 13. Provenance: - Former Collection Noble Parisienne since the second half of the 19th century, Comte de Sapia de Lencia, remained by descent in the same family. Collection of Monsieur X. Family tradition indicates that this Chinese dish comes from an ancient French noble family, passed down through successive inheritances from their common ancestor, the Comte de Sapia de Lencia, a well-known collector in the first half of the 19th century. A sale on the occasion of his estate took place following his death at Hôtel Drouot, room N°8 on Monday 18, Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 May 1885. "This collection brought together very fine Saxon porcelain, pieces of form and choice, table services, numerous groups and figurines mounted on Louis XV gilt-bronze pedestals, mounted Chinese porcelain, some very fine porcelain.
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