77
A FAMILLE ROSE 'BUTTERFLY AND FLOWERS' SAUCER DISH, YONGZHENG MARK AND PERIOD
Opinion: It has become exceedingly difficult to find 18th century 'boneless' wares in a good state of preservation, regardless of form or size. But being able to offer such a large dish, with such a finely painted Yongzheng mark, and from the period, with such vibrant colors, and in such pristine condition overall, just feels like a once-in-a-lifetime event!
China, 1723-1735. Delicately potted, the shallow rounded sides rising from a straight and high foot to a gently everted rim. The interior finely painted in 'boneless style' with bright enamels to depict a butterfly fluttering amid leafy and flowering stems of chrysanthemum and peony with two still-closed buds. The recessed base with an underglaze-blue six-character mark da Qing Yongzheng nianzhi within a double circle and of the period.
Provenance: A Scottish private collection.
Condition: Magnificent condition commensurate with age. Only minor old wear and tiny firing irregularities. The foot rim with two minor nicks. A Yongzheng-era porcelain dish in such well-preserved condition must be considered extremely rare.
Weight: 256.9 g
Dimensions: Diameter 19.8 cm
The combination of flowers and butterflies to decorate Chinese porcelain can be seen from as early as the Ming dynasty's Yongle reign, when it was used on blue and white wares, such as the pear-shaped vase in the Sir Percival David collection, British Museum, London, illustrated by R. Scott, Elegant Form and Harmonious Decoration: Four Dynasties of Jingdezhen Porcelain, London, 1992, p. 38, no. 25. The combination of butterflies and flower sprays painted in overglaze enamels on porcelain, however, became particularly popular at the Imperial Court during the Yongzheng reign, following the development of the famille rose palette of enamel colors, see a famille rose bowl, Yongzheng mark and period, decorated with roundels enclosing butterflies and flowers, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelains with Cloisonne Enamel Decoration and Famille Rose Decoration, vol. 39, Hong Kong, 1999, pp. 78-9, no.68.
This bowl is an early example of the new confidence among painters during the reign of Yongzheng to increasingly handle areas of multiple color without using formal borders for separation. This technique is known as 'boneless style', because there virtually is no inner skeleton to the design. In the present lot for example, the pink and white colors of the large peony flower are not separated by any lines. This technique was not widely used, most likely because it was too difficult to implement on a mass production scale. It represented a great challenge to the artists, where unskilled painters would require outlines to complete their sections of decoration, and if not handled well, would give the impression that the piece was unfinished.
The fluttering butterfly depicted on this dish emphasizes the fragile, shimmering beauty of the wings. Designs of butterflies suggest duplication of an auspicious wish, since the character for butterfly is a homophone for 'repeat'. It also is a homophone with 'die' meaning 'Over seventy or eighty years of age', and thus expresses a wish for longevity. Butterflies also symbolize happiness in marriage and everlasting romantic love. The latter interpretation is due to a number of traditional Chinese stories in which butterflies play a significant part. Feng Menglong (1574-1646), for example, narrates the popular story of the 'butterfly lovers' Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, who are transformed into butterflies after death. The philosopher Zhuangzi's famous dream of being a butterfly also made them symbols of the boundary between dream and reality.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related famille rose saucer dish with butterflies and peonies, also with a Yongzheng mark and of the period, 29.7 cm diameter, exhibited by the Oriental Ceramic Society at Bonhams London, Reginald and Lena Palmer, their Collection, and the Oriental Ceramic Society, 1921-1970, 27 October 2021.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 April 2011, lot 3061
Price: HKD 920,000 or approx. EUR 135,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A famille-rose saucer dish, mark and period of Yongzheng
Expert remark: Compare the closely related manner of painting with similar peony, chrysanthemum, and two-color leaves. Note the slightly smaller size (18.5 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 19 March 2013, lot 218
Price: USD 81,250 or approx. EUR 101,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pair of famille-rose dishes, Yongzheng mark and period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and manner of painting with similar peony, chrysanthemum, two-color leaves, and butterfly. Note the smaller size (15.1 cm) and that the lot is a pair of dishes.
雍正款及年代粉彩花蝶戀紋小碟
中國,1723-1735年。胎薄體輕,盤心以沒骨畫法繪牡丹、萱草高低錯落,彩蝶翩翩,畫面生動,風格清新雅緻,敷彩鮮豔。圈足内雙圈青花六字款“大清雍正年製”。
由於字數限制,完整中文敘述請至www.zacke.at查看。
Opinion: It has become exceedingly difficult to find 18th century 'boneless' wares in a good state of preservation, regardless of form or size. But being able to offer such a large dish, with such a finely painted Yongzheng mark, and from the period, with such vibrant colors, and in such pristine condition overall, just feels like a once-in-a-lifetime event!
China, 1723-1735. Delicately potted, the shallow rounded sides rising from a straight and high foot to a gently everted rim. The interior finely painted in 'boneless style' with bright enamels to depict a butterfly fluttering amid leafy and flowering stems of chrysanthemum and peony with two still-closed buds. The recessed base with an underglaze-blue six-character mark da Qing Yongzheng nianzhi within a double circle and of the period.
Provenance: A Scottish private collection.
Condition: Magnificent condition commensurate with age. Only minor old wear and tiny firing irregularities. The foot rim with two minor nicks. A Yongzheng-era porcelain dish in such well-preserved condition must be considered extremely rare.
Weight: 256.9 g
Dimensions: Diameter 19.8 cm
The combination of flowers and butterflies to decorate Chinese porcelain can be seen from as early as the Ming dynasty's Yongle reign, when it was used on blue and white wares, such as the pear-shaped vase in the Sir Percival David collection, British Museum, London, illustrated by R. Scott, Elegant Form and Harmonious Decoration: Four Dynasties of Jingdezhen Porcelain, London, 1992, p. 38, no. 25. The combination of butterflies and flower sprays painted in overglaze enamels on porcelain, however, became particularly popular at the Imperial Court during the Yongzheng reign, following the development of the famille rose palette of enamel colors, see a famille rose bowl, Yongzheng mark and period, decorated with roundels enclosing butterflies and flowers, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelains with Cloisonne Enamel Decoration and Famille Rose Decoration, vol. 39, Hong Kong, 1999, pp. 78-9, no.68.
This bowl is an early example of the new confidence among painters during the reign of Yongzheng to increasingly handle areas of multiple color without using formal borders for separation. This technique is known as 'boneless style', because there virtually is no inner skeleton to the design. In the present lot for example, the pink and white colors of the large peony flower are not separated by any lines. This technique was not widely used, most likely because it was too difficult to implement on a mass production scale. It represented a great challenge to the artists, where unskilled painters would require outlines to complete their sections of decoration, and if not handled well, would give the impression that the piece was unfinished.
The fluttering butterfly depicted on this dish emphasizes the fragile, shimmering beauty of the wings. Designs of butterflies suggest duplication of an auspicious wish, since the character for butterfly is a homophone for 'repeat'. It also is a homophone with 'die' meaning 'Over seventy or eighty years of age', and thus expresses a wish for longevity. Butterflies also symbolize happiness in marriage and everlasting romantic love. The latter interpretation is due to a number of traditional Chinese stories in which butterflies play a significant part. Feng Menglong (1574-1646), for example, narrates the popular story of the 'butterfly lovers' Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, who are transformed into butterflies after death. The philosopher Zhuangzi's famous dream of being a butterfly also made them symbols of the boundary between dream and reality.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related famille rose saucer dish with butterflies and peonies, also with a Yongzheng mark and of the period, 29.7 cm diameter, exhibited by the Oriental Ceramic Society at Bonhams London, Reginald and Lena Palmer, their Collection, and the Oriental Ceramic Society, 1921-1970, 27 October 2021.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 April 2011, lot 3061
Price: HKD 920,000 or approx. EUR 135,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A famille-rose saucer dish, mark and period of Yongzheng
Expert remark: Compare the closely related manner of painting with similar peony, chrysanthemum, and two-color leaves. Note the slightly smaller size (18.5 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 19 March 2013, lot 218
Price: USD 81,250 or approx. EUR 101,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pair of famille-rose dishes, Yongzheng mark and period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and manner of painting with similar peony, chrysanthemum, two-color leaves, and butterfly. Note the smaller size (15.1 cm) and that the lot is a pair of dishes.
雍正款及年代粉彩花蝶戀紋小碟
中國,1723-1735年。胎薄體輕,盤心以沒骨畫法繪牡丹、萱草高低錯落,彩蝶翩翩,畫面生動,風格清新雅緻,敷彩鮮豔。圈足内雙圈青花六字款“大清雍正年製”。
由於字數限制,完整中文敘述請至www.zacke.at查看。
DAY 1 - TWO-DAY AUCTION - Fine Chinese Art / 中國藝術集珍 / Buddhism & Hinduism
Sale Date(s)
Venue Address
For Galerie Zacke delivery information please telephone +43(0)-15320452.
Important Information
Contact us via Wechat, our Wechat ID: GalerieZacke
We’ve updated our terms and conditions to better protect all serious and committed buyers from bidding against non-payers. Bidders must clarify all questions specifically about the objects before the auction. A sale cancellation of any kind after the fall of the hammer is not possible. The only exception to this fundamental rule is our guarantee of authenticity. We encourage you to read through these updates carefully (§34-50).
According to the general terms and conditions of business of Galerie Zacke Vienna, Founded 1968, SZA Versteigerungen & Vertriebs GmbH, 1070 Wien
WE ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING METHODS OF PAYMENTS:
• Cash
• Certified or personal check
• Bank transfer (please inquire to receive our bank account information)
• Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Diners Club)
ESTIMATES AND STARTING PRICES
The auction will begin with the starting price and written bids will be accepted only with a minimum amount equivalent to the starting price.
SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT INSURANCE
For domestic shipping Galerie Zacke (hereinafter called “the company”) charges in average Eur 15,- to Eur 50,- per item, depending on size and weight. These fees cover the costs of packing and shipping. Fees for bulky or fragile items, or international shipping will be quoted upon request.
The purchased goods are transported at the risk of the customer following handover of the packaged item to the post office or another carrier which the customer agrees to through his/her submission of the purchase order. According to the specific wish of the customer, the auctioned goods may be insured for the value of the purchase price (highest bid and all surcharges). This insurance fee is 3% of the purchase price. For any lots with a purchase prices exceeding EUR 350,- the transport insurance will be automatically arranged by the company if it does not expressively receive the purchaser’s written denial of this service and signed waiver of claims. Payments due to the company under the insurance contract will be charged to the customer. The company is also entitled to assign claims under the insurance contract to the customer providing the terms of the insurance contract do not prevent this. In any case, the company is only required to make payment to the customer specifically if payment has effectively been received from the insurance company.
COLOR AND CONDITION
Auction lots will be exhibited for viewing prior to the auction, thus offering all interested customers the opportunity to examine the quality and condition of the works exhibited. The catalog illustrations are intended to assist customers during such preview. In illustrations, printed colors do not correspond exactly to the originals. The printed catalog images are not representative for the condition of the illustrated pieces. Hidden flaws and damages are indicated in the condition report. The illustrations in our online catalogs can be strongly magnified, so that most damages and restorations are well recognizable.
ENDANGERED SPECIES / CITES INFORMATION
Some items in this catalog may for example consist of ivory, rhinoceroshorn, tortoise shell, or some types of tropical wood, and are subject to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora [CITES]. Such items are marked with the symbol Ɏ on www.zacke.at and may only be exported outside the European Union after an export permit in accordance with CITES has been granted by the Austrian authorities. We would like to inform you that such licenses are typically not granted. For objects which have a low ivory content or have been proven beyond doubt to be in the EU before 1982, please contact our office for more information on how to obtain a CITES license.
COMPLAINTS
At its auctions, Galerie Zacke sells consigned lots on behalf of third-party consignors. For this reason, any complaints related to purchased lots must be in accordance with §32-48 of the general terms and conditions of business of Galerie Zacke, which can be found on www.zacke.at
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Whenever making a bid, whether personally or via an agent, in writing, online, telephone, or in any other way, the bidder fully and unconditionally accepts the Terms of Auction, the ‘Important Information’ section in the auction catalog, the Terms and Conditions (AGB) of Galerie Zacke, §1-48, the Fee Tariff, and the Bidding Increments table, all as published on www.zacke.at on the day of the auction
THE ART LOSS REGISTER
All items starting above 2.000,- EUR have been checked by the Art Loss register
Terms & Conditions
TERMS OF AUCTION
Buyer’s Premium 30% including VAT
Further information please read § 3
§ 1) The auction shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the rules of procedure of GALERIE ZACKE©, SZA VERSTEIGERUNGEN UND VERTRIEBS GMBH, MARIAHILFERSTRASSE 112, 1070 WIEN (hereinafter referred to as the company) as well as in accordance with sections 244-246 of the GEWERBEORDNUNG [Industrial Code] of 1994. The auction shall be carried out on commission. The auctioneer shall be entitled to withdraw lots exceptionally, to conduct the auction deviating from the order of the catalog numbers and to offer lots jointly. In the event of any dispute concerning a double bid or if the auctioneer has missed a bid, the auctioneer shall be entitled to revoke acceptance of a bid and to continue auctioning the item. The figures stated in the catalog shall be the highest bid in Euro (€) expected by the respective expert. As a rule, the bid shall be increased by 10% of the last bid. (See table of the bidding increments).
§ 2) The acceptance of a bid shall be granted to the highest bidder unless a hidden reserve has been agreed upon with the consignor of the item in question. Such a hidden reserve (also called limit or just reserve) shall be the minimum price under which the item will not be sold during the auction. This reserve will be disclosed upon request and after the auction only and may exceed the estimate. The auctioneer will in this case bid on behalf of the seller against all other bidders until the reserve has been reached. If a reserve is not reached during the auction, the auctioneer will knock down the item to the highest bidder at the final bid, but the sale will be conditional of the acceptance of this final bid by the seller. In this case the highest bidder shall be bound to his/her last bid for a term of 8 days starting with the day of the knockdown. If the winning bidder does not receive a written cancellation notice within this term of 8 days, the knockdown becomes unconditional and the sale is final. Typically, only a minority of all items in an auction have a hidden reserve.
§ 3) Most items shall be subject to differential taxation. A uniform surcharge of 25% plus the value added tax applicable to the surcharge to the amount of 20% shall be added to the achieved highest bid (final and highest bid). Thus, the surcharge shall be 30% of the final and highest bid in total. Items with added VAT are marked in the online catalog.
§ 4) In the event of sales abroad, the value added tax will be repaid if the item is sold to a country which is not a member country of the European Union (third country), the legal requirements are met, and the proof of exportation is provided. The value added tax shall not be shown separately on the invoice.
§ 5) The auction buyer must pay the purchase price immediately upon acceptance of the bid (final and highest bid plus 25% surcharge, plus the value added tax applicable to the surcharge to the amount of 20%, or the added VAT on top of the final price, when a lot is highlighted accordingly in the auction catalog). The company may grant an auction buyer a term of payment for the purchase price in whole or in part when this has been formally applied for in writing before the auction.
§ 6) In the event of a term of payment, or any payment delay, in whole or in part, the company shall be entitled to charge default interest (12% p.a.) as well as storage charges (2.4% pf the final and highest bid per month commenced) after 14 days upon acceptance of the bid. The item purchased at auction shall be handed over exclusively upon full payment of the purchase price including all costs and charges accrued since the acceptance of the bid.
§ 7) The buyer should take acquired items into possession, as far as possible, immediately or after the end of the auction. Items which have been fully paid for shall be handed over in our show rooms in GALERIE ZACKE, MARIAHILFERSTRASSE 112, 1070 VIENNA. If a deferred purchase price is not paid within the set period, the company shall be entitled to auction the item again in order to recoup its claim from the defaulting auction buyer. In this case, the defaulting auction buyer shall be liable to the company for the total loss of commission incurred by the company due to the re-auctioning as well as for any default interest and storage charges.
§ 8) The company shall be entitled to a lien on all items of the buyer irrespective of whether the buyer bought them within the scope of an auction or in free sale or the company secured ownership of these items otherwise. This lien shall serve to secure all current and future, qualified, limited and unmatured claims to which the company is entitled and which result from all legal transactions concluded with the buyer.
§ 9) The items received for auction will be exhibited and may be viewed prior to the auction. In doing so, the company shall give everyone the opportunity to check the nature and the condition of the exhibited items to the extent deemed possible within the scope of the exhibition. Every bidder shall be deemed to act on its own behalf unless it provides a written confirmation saying that it acts as a representative or agent of a well-known principal. The company may refuse bids; this shall particularly apply if a bidder who is unknown to the company or with whom the company has no business connections yet does not provide a security deposit before the auction. However, in principle there shall be no claim to accept a bid. If a bid has been refused, the previous bid shall remain effective.
§ 10) The company’s experts evaluate and describe the items received for auction and determine the starting prices unless otherwise stated in the catalog or expert opinion. The information concerning production technique or material, state of preservation, origin, design and age of an item is based on published or otherwise generally accessible (scientific) findings concluded by the company’s expert with the necessary care and accuracy. The company shall warrant to the buyer according to §34-38 of the AGB (Terms and Conditions) that properties are correct provided that any complaints referring to this are made within 45 days after the auction day. Subsequent complaints shall be excluded in principle. The company shall not be liable for any further information in the catalog and expert opinion as well. This shall also apply to illustrations in the catalog. The purpose of these illustrations is to guide the potential buyer during the preview. They shall not be authoritative for the condition or the characteristics of the pictured item. The published condition reports shall only mention defects and damage affecting the artistic or commercial value significantly. Complaints concerning the price shall be excluded upon acceptance of the bid. The company reserves the right to amend the catalog online prior to the auction. These amendments shall also be made public orally by the auctioneer during the auction. In this case, the company shall be liable for the amendment only. All items offered may be checked prior to the auction. These items are used. Any claims for damages exceeding the liability named above and resulting from other material defects or other defects of the item shall be excluded. When making the bid, the bidder confirms that he/she has inspected the item prior to the auction and has made sure that the item corresponds to the description.
§ 11) If a customer is not able to participate in an auction personally, the company shall accept purchase orders. These orders may be placed in writing via mail, e-mail, fax, www.zacke.at or a third party bidding platform. In the case of a purchase order placed by phone or orally, the company shall reserve the right to make the performance dependent on a confirmation from the principal communicated in writing. Furthermore, the company shall not be liable for the performance of purchase orders. Equal purchase orders or live bids will be considered in the order of their receipt. Bids which below the estimate shall be exhausted completely. Bids which do not correspond to the increments determined by the company (see bidding increment table) will be rounded up to the next higher increment. The table of these increments can be sent upon request. The written bid (purchase order) must include the item, the catalog number and the offered top bid limit which is quoted as the amount of the acceptance of the bid without buyer’s commission and without taxes. Ambiguities shall be carried by the bidder. A purchase order which has already been placed may only be cancelled if the written withdrawal is received by the company at least 72 hours prior to the beginning of the auction.
§ 12) The company may refuse a purchase order without explanation or make its execution dependent on payment of a security deposit. In the event of an unsuccessful order, such a deposit will be reimbursed by the company within 5 working days. Processing of purchase orders is free of charge.
§ 13) Every seller shall in principle be entitled to withdraw the items offered for auction until the start of the auction. Therefore, it is impossible to assume liability or to give warranty for the actual offering.
§ 14) Paid items must be collected within 30 days after payment. Items which have not been collected may be re-offered without further communication at the starting price from the recent auction reduced by 50%. Items which have not been collected within 30 days after the auction or for which the company does not receive any proper shipping instructions stating the type of shipping and the address of dispatch (independent of a possibly placed purchase order) shall be stored at the owner’s risk. Furthermore, the company shall be entitled to store items which have been purchased at auction and paid but not collected at the buyer ś risk and expense, including the costs for an insurance, with a forwarding agency. It shall be understood that the provision concerning the re-auctioning of unpaid and paid but not collected items must also apply to items not exhibited or stored on the premises of the company. The ownership shall be transferred to the buyer at the time of handing over the issuing note.
§ 15) In the case of mixed lots with a starting price of less than EUR 350.00, the company shall not warrant for the completeness or correctness of the individual items within a mixed lot.
§ 16) A registration for a bid by telephone for one or several items shall automatically represent a bid at the estimate price of these items. If the company cannot reach a bidder by telephone, it will bid on behalf of this bidder up to the estimate price when the respective lot is up for auction.
§ 17) Payments made to the company by mistake (through the payer ś fault) (e. g. due to miscalculation of the exchange rate by the payer) or payments made to the company for the same invoice several times shall be compensated in form of a credit note for goods for an indefinite period of time. The repayment of such payments in cash shall be excluded.
§ 18) Certain auction lots may exist several times (multiples). In such a case, the auctioneer may accept a second, third or even more bids from the underbidder(s). In this case, the text in the catalog and not the illustration shall be exclusively binding with regard to the warranty.
§ 19) The company reserves the right to assign to the buyer all rights and obligations resulting from the contractual relationship between the company and the seller by way of a respective declaration, as well as to assign to the seller all rights and obligations resulting from the contractual relationship between the company and the buyer by way of a respective declaration, in each case in terms of a complete assignment of contract with the result that the contractual relationship - following the submission of the aforementioned declarations by the company – shall exclusively be between the seller and the buyer, all of which is in accordance with the basic model of the commission agreement. Buyers and sellers shall already now give their explicit consent to this contract assignment.
§ 20) The place of performance of the contract brought about between the company on the one hand and the seller as well as the buyer on the other hand shall be the place of business of the company. The legal relationships and contracts existing between the company, the sellers and the buyers shall be subject to Austrian law. The company, the sellers and the buyers shall agree to settle all disputes resulting from, concerning and in connection with this contract before the territorially competent court of Vienna.
§ 21) The export of certain art objects from Austria shall require a permit from the Bundesdenkmalamt [Federal Monuments Office]. The company will orally provide information about art objects for which such export permit will probably not be granted at the beginning of the auction.
§ 22) Whenever making a bid, whether personally or via an agent, in writing, online, telephone, or in any other way, the bidder fully and unconditionally accepts the Terms of Auction, the ‘Important Information’ section in the auction catalog, the Terms and Conditions (AGB) of Galerie Zacke, §1-48, the Fee Tariff, and the Bidding Increments table, all as published on www.zacke.at on the day of the auction.