A rare pair of carved green-glazed 'lotus' narcissus trays, Seal marks and period of Qianlong

Collection of Dr. Robert Kemper (1924-2016).

This pair of green-glazed relief-decorated narcissus trays represents a new porcelain style that was developed in the early 18th century. The opaque quality of the green glaze is reminiscent of semi-precious stones such as malachite, and the relief design contributes further to the effect of the wares being carved from stone.

This technique and green-colored glaze is seen on a variety of Qianlong mark and period vessels; see a gu beaker vase decorated with baijixiang amongst lotus scrolls in relief, sold in these rooms, 21st September 2005, lot 123; a hat stand included in the exhibition Qingdai danse you ciqi tezhen [Special exhibition of monochrome glazed porcelain of the Qing dynasty], National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1981, cat. no. 48; and a lantern vase carved with dragons amidst waves, included in the exhibition In Pursuit of Antiquities. Min Chiu Society 40th Anniversary Exhibition, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 2001, cat. no. 187.

Similar designs of lotus scrolls in relief can be found on vases of other pastel-colored glazes. See, for example, a pair of pomegranate-shaped vases covered in a turquoise glaze, with Qianlong seal marks and of the period, from the J.M. Hu Collection, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 9th October 2012, lot 112; and a turquoise-glazed brushwasher, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the Museum’s exhibition op. cit., cat. no. 49.

Dr. Robert Kemper founded the Asian department at the Cincinnati Art Museum in 1946. Upon his retirement, he donated his whole collection as a gift to the Museum save for this pair of bowls, which he bequeathed to his daughter.