Blue & White Porcelain Bottles

[bambooforrest]

Richard, thanks for the explanation. Charll, that appears to be from the same hand as mine.

[richy88]

Hi John

I am coming back to your bottle in post #246. the woman carrying a baby in a garden scene with a man at the other end onlooking.

This appears to be the story of "The orphan of the Zhao family".

The Orphan of the Zhao family is based on historical records. The orphan was born during the Spring-Autumn Period – a time when imperial power was being eroded by the growth of numerous aristocratic family-states.

The story is as follows: schemed by the evil courtier Tu An Gu, the Zhao clan was all killed except for the Princess who was the Jin Ruler’s sister and was pregnant. After the baby was born, he was smuggled out by a loyal follower and doctor, Cheng Ying. Having realized that the baby boy had escaped, Tu An Gu gave the order to kill all the newly born boys in the country. Finally, Cheng Ying decided to give up his own child for the Zhao orphan.

The scene on the bottle shows Cheng's wife trying to carry their baby away. But she eventually agreed with her husband's plan.

Meanwhile, Cheng Ying and his friend, a retired minister Gongsun Chujiu made a plan. Cheng would report to Tu An about Gongsun who had the Zhao orphan in his house. Actually, the real Zhao orphan was hidden in the deep mountain while Cheng’s own baby son was with Gongsun. Tu An killed both Gongsun and the child. In order to reward Cheng Ying as a loyal reporter, Tu An took both Cheng Ying and his son (but actually Zhao’s offspring) to his house and Tu An made himself the foster father of the boy.

Sixteen years later, Cheng Ying revealed the true story to the young man. The orphan of Zhao took revenge on Tu An, for his parents, his clan, and for Cheng Ying.

This is an archetypal Chinese story of loyalty, honesty, sacrifice, friendship, evil, revenge, bravery, and justice.

For your reference.

Regards.


Richard

[bambooforrest]

Richard, I can not believe you were able to figure that story out. Impressive as usual. I am posting 2 B&W& copper red bottles with the same motif as a follow up. I note the differences in the painting and colors from bottle to bottle, possibly by the same hand.

[Joey]

Amazing story, Richard.
And very similar to some Greek stories.
Best,
joey

[bambooforrest]

Richard, this story is very similar to some of the early Kung Fu movies I have seen. This next bottle [74mm] has the "Golden thread" glaze which seems to be pretty common. A purchase from one of my earliest in person auctions in 1999.

[bambooforrest]

The next example [79mm] features a man leading a mule over a bridge. From an auction in 2007. The bottle from the Collection of St. John's University.

[Joey]

Beautiful, John.

Which St. John's University?
Best,
Joey

[bambooforrest]

Joey, since the auction was in N.Y.C. I am assuming that it is the St. John's in Queens.

[Joey]

Logical, John.
Being born in Canada, I automatically assumed it was in St. John's NFLD.
But St. John's College in St. John's, is now Memorial University...
Oh, I see that St. John's U. is in Jamaica Queens, NYC.
Thank you,
Joey

[bambooforrest]

This next example [75mm] is my favorite lotus scroll bottle. It is very well painted and the fisherman is a nice touch. The unusual, I believe silver top/spoon came with it. From an auction in 2006.

[Joey]

John,

    The stopper is really quite striking.
The fisherman on the base is very sweet,
but the Indian Lotus scrolls, while superbly painted, are very cramped,
and I find it a claustrophobic design.

Still, technically a beauty. And if people are not disturbed by a
claustrophobic feeling [I am, sadly  ], it is a fine example.
Best,
Joey

[Wattana]

I am coming back to your bottle in post #246. the woman carrying a baby in a garden scene with a man at the other end onlooking.

This appears to be the story of "The orphan of the Zhao family".

Hi Richard,
Not for the first time ( ) your ability to pinpoint the story depicted on these porcelain bottles amazes me.

Hi John,
You have some truly great B&W bottles!
I really enjoyed the fisherman on the base of that last bottle.

Best,
Tom

[Fiveroosters aka clayandbrush]

Dear John,
your last lotus bottle is spectacular!
Giovanni

[bambooforrest]

Everyone, thanks for your compliments. This next bottle [79mm] is later with the multiple dots on the neck. The quality compared to the last bottle is not there. From a small auction in 2010.

[Joey]

John,

    You are correct, though it is still pleasing.
But also very claustrophobic in design.
Best,
Joey

[bambooforrest]

Another similar bottle [58mm] but in jarlet shape. From an internet auction in 2017.

[Joey]

I actually prefer this example with its apocryphal Ming Chenghua 4 character mark.
Joey

[bambooforrest]

Joey, I can see why you like this one better because it is less cluttered. The next bottle [61mm] is a more rounded shape. From a small auction in 2011.

[Joey]

Dear John,

    Can you show the mouth of the last bottle [jarlet?] featured?
I love it.
Best,
Joey

[rpfstoneman]

John,

This last jarlet should be a keeper.  It is well done with a design that can breath a bit more.  Also, the various use the blue tones provides for a more crisp and more attractive design.  Though all these characteristic are just my preference. 

Charll