Chinese export porcelain candlesticks of European silver form, Kangxi .

Rare pair of Chinese export porcelain candlesticks of European silver form decorated in the Imari pattern with flowers, c. 1720, Kangxi reign, Qing dynasty, h. 17 cm, 6¾ in. (crack to base, both sticks re-stuck) 2.7037 (3854)

Provenance: Benjamin F. Edwards III Collection, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, inventory no. 5411.

Illustrated: 100 Years of Chinese Export Porcelain, by A. Varela Santos, 2014/2015, cat. 53.

Literature:

• Chinese Export Porcelain, by D.F.L. Scheurleer, fig. 115 for one similar candlestick;

• The Jay Dorf Collection of Chinese Export Porcelain, Christie’s sale catalogue 17th October 1966, for a similar pair decorated in opaque enamels.

◆ This is another European form taken from a metal, precious or not, wood or faience original which was copied to great effect in China. Of great technical difficulty to manufacture it is a testament to the virtuosity of the anonymous Chinese potter.

中國外銷瓷伊萬里花卉紋燭臺一對, 歐洲銀器器型, 約1720年, 清康熙, 高15 釐米, 6 英吋。

插图: 《百年中国外销瓷》 阿.瓦瑞拉.桑托斯, 2014/2015, 目录 53。

藏品出處: Benjamin E Edward III之藏品, 美國, 密蘇里州, 聖路易斯市, 庫存編號: 3547/5335。

參考文獻:

•《中國外銷瓷》，作者D.F.L. Scheurleer，見圖115一件相似燭臺；

•《Jay Dorf收藏中國外銷瓷》，1966年10月17日佳士得拍賣圖錄，見一對施不透明釉近似器。

◆ 這是被中國仿製到極致的另一歐洲器型, 取自于金屬、 (無論其貴重與否) 木材、或彩陶原器。燒造此類器皿技術難度極大, 是默默無聞的中國瓷工的藝術鑒賞力是一充分佐證。