A rare and massive faux-bois basin, Seal mark and period of Yongzheng | 清雍正 仿木紋花盆 《大清雍正年製》款

collects ion of the Mary C. Belin (1912-96) Trust.

Christie's New York, 19th September 1996, lot 302.

Christie's Hong Kong, 2nd November 1999, lot 546.

Mary C. Belin（1912-96年）信託基金會收藏

紐約佳士得1996年9月19日，編號302

香港佳士得1999年11月2日，編號546

Porcelain copying wood, bronze or lacquer was a new technique developed during Yongzheng's reign. The convincing imitation of wood on this basin is evidence of the high level of craftsmanship already achieved by Yongzheng period potters at Jingdezhen in this new technique of ceramic simulations.    

Compare a related faux-bois flowerpot in the Beijing Palace Museum, illustrated in Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong. Qing Porcelain from the Palace Museum collects ion, Hong Kong, 1989, pl. 146; and another in the Taipei Palace Museum, published in the Illustrated Catalogue of Ch’ing Dynasty Porcelain in the Palace Museum, Republic of China: K’ang-hsi Ware and Yung-cheng Ware, Tokyo, 1980, pl. 97.

This basin, with its sewn lining, is one of the most realistically rendered faux-bois items recorded. The vessel is shaped and painted like a wide wooden tub formed of vertical planks, tied with plaited bands of rope, and lined with yellow oilcloth sewn together from rectangular patches.

以瓷仿製木、銅、漆等各式材質器物，為雍正時期景德鎮瓷匠諸多創新之一。此器對木材之模仿幾可亂真，足見雍正時期景德鎮高度成熟的陶瓷仿真工藝。

對比一例北京故宮博物院所藏仿木紋釉花盆，載於《故宮珍藏：康雍乾瓷器圖錄》，香港，1989年，圖版146；另見台北故宮博物院藏一例，錄於《故宮清瓷圖錄：康熙窰．雍正窰》，東京，1980年，圖版97 。