Blue and white vase with celadon background “Nobles and sages”, Qing Dynasty

This ceramic vase is decorated with a light, celadon-coloured glaze on which a large scene in white and cobalt-blue tones stands out. It has a wide circular mouth that descends into an elongated neck, widening at the shoulders in the shape of an hourglass. The neck is adorned by two handles on the sides, in the shape of an elephant with a curled trunk. The rounded body rests on a circular foot.   

On the front face is a low-relief depiction of a scene set in a traditional Chinese garden, showing two nobles with their attendants and a wise old man observing what is happening. Above the scene, at shoulder height, is the sky, adorned with ‘ruyi’ clouds, and above this, arranged on the neck of the vase, two deities float on clouds. 

Height: 42 cm

Provenance:

- Acquired from KUNSTHANDEL KLEFISCH in 2013 (as indicated by the label arranged on the mouth). 

- Now in a private French collection.