Octagonal in shape and with a ridged and splayed base. The exterior is divided into eight panels, which are outlined in under glaze blue. Each of the panels contains a combination of – magnolia, chrysanthemum, narcissus, prunus and peony flowers interplayed with birds, butterfly and insects. Height: 10 cm
Crack, repair.
Purchased from Guest & Gray, London, June 2007.
The Avalon Collection.
This collection, which in the main focuses on the Interregnum and Kangxi periods has been both carefully and sensitively formed over the last twenty-five years. The collector, a member of the English Oriental Ceramic Society, has assembled the collection with an eye for provenance whilst purchasing from old European collections, well-established antique dealers and at auction.
Academically, the pieces have been well researched both in terms of their symbolism and narrative themes. In many instances the imagery on the pieces has been referenced to episodes in the romantic and historic novels of Chinese mythology, which were used extensively in the decoration of seventeenth century Chinese porcelain.
A similar goblet can be seen in “The Catalogue of the George Eumorfopoulos Collection of Chinese, Korean and Persian Pottery and Porcelain – Volume V” by R L Hobson, ref E109, Plate 20.