Exceptional Chinese blue and white klaptmuts bowl, Kangxi (1662-1722), the sides finely painted in a bright underglaze blue with three ruyi-head shaped panels each containing one of the ‘Three Friends of Winter' (pine, plum and bamboo), against a cellular background and interspersed with beribboned Buddhist symbol of the 'Three Jewels' (Triratna), the everted rim with peach-shaped panels containing the ‘shou’ symbol (happiness and longevity), and ogee-shaped panels containing peaches, ruyi sceptres and flowers, against a cellular background, the inside central cicular panel containing finger fruit, pomegranate and flowers encircled by a ruyi-head band all within a further cellular band, the interior rim with six further cartouches against a fine floral cellular ground, the base with an underglaze six character Chenghua mark within concentric circles. SOLD
Dimensions:
Diameter 20.4 cm. (8/16 in.)
Condition:
There is an area of approximately 7 x 2cm. to the rim restored with associated overpainting and some smaller restorations along the rim.
Notes:
The ‘Three Jewels’ of Buddhism (triratna) consist of the Buddha, the dharma (doctrine) and the sangha (monastic order, or community). The tripartite theme is continued in the ‘three friends of winter’ motif; plants which remain green and verdant during the cold, dark winter months thus representing perseverance and steadfastness through difficult times.
