明代筆記 Vol.8 明洪武180萬港元成交，釉裏紅纏枝花卉紋盌 - A Rare Copper-Red 'Floral' Bowl, Ming Dynasty, Hongwu Period

SACA Podcast - Hongwu Bowl - 洪武釉裏紅

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此盌做工精美，通體纏枝花卉紋飾，釉裏紅發色鮮明奪目，乃洪武年間珍品。釉裏紅乃景德鎮御窯所用，雖能呈現絢麗之圖案，然銅料於窰燒時呈色艱難，故御窯工匠對之愛憎交織。

洪武時期，此類釉裏紅瓷器燒造甚眾，然因其性質變幻莫測，成品率低，至宣德年間，漸被廢棄。

180萬港元成交！

多數釉裏紅例，飾紋多見不平整及色斑，發色泛黑，此盌發色純正，乃明初瓷器燒造之瑰寶。可比北京故宮博物院所藏類，內飾常見之菊花卷草及蓮花紋，見於《明代洪武永樂御窯瓷器》，北京，2015年，編號7；另一例於1994年景德鎮東門頭洪武層出土，青花釉裏紅燒製失敗品，編號8；另見台北故宮藏一例，展於1982年《明代初期瓷器特展》，編號51；上海博物館亦藏兩例鍍金金屬口，見於陸明華《明代官窯瓷器》，上海，2007年，圖版1-1及4-8。

此類盌之紋飾多見花卉圖案，此盌以菊花為心，圍繞花卉枝葉，至今未見他例。比較兩例，其中心為蓮花，內繪折枝花卉：一件載於《龍泉集芳：創業七十周年記念》，卷１，繭山龍泉堂，東京，1976年，編號730；另一件於香港蘇富比1981年11月24日售出，編號132。又見細川藏品，外飾類似花卉者，載於《世界陶瓷全集》，卷14，東京，1976年，圖版4及5。

杜維廉男爵（1905–1985年）生前為英國高階官員兼作家，至1965年退休前歷任外交要職。其於1953至1955年間駐北京任代辦，蒐集中國藝術珍品，藏有數件釉裏紅瓷，尤以兩件釉裏紅玉壺春瓶為最，其一於倫敦蘇富比1974年4月2日售出，編號193，並於2019年3月22日再次售出，編號1624。

估價

150,000 - 300,000 GBP

出處

英國外交官杜維廉男爵（1905–1985年）收藏

凱特．杜維廉女士（1943年生）收藏

著錄

John Addis，〈 A Group of Underglaze Red〉，《東方陶瓷學會會刊第31冊》，倫敦， 1957–1958年， 圖版1.a

《大英博物館元末及明代瓷器》，倫敦，2001年，圖版2:12 （圖 1）

展出

借展於大英博物館

Description

Diameter 21.3 cm, 8⅜ in.

Condition Report

There is a triangular section (ca. 8 cm wide), that has been broken into two pieces and restored, together with an associated hairline extending to the interior; there are also several hairlines extending from the rim; all of the above were stablised with rivets to the exterior, which has been replaced and restored.

口沿可見一處三角形區間曾裂成兩塊，均經修復，並可見一道相關冲線往下延伸；口沿另有幾道冲，曾用鉚釘固定，均經修復。

Provenance

Collection of Lord Humphrey Trevelyan (1905-1985), G.C.M.G., C.I.E., O.B.E..

Collection of Hon. Kate Trevelyan (b. 1943).

Literature

John Addis, 'A Group of Underglaze Red', Transactions of The Oriental Ceramic Society, vol. 31, London, 1957-1958, pl. 1.a.

Catalogue of Late Yuan and Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, pl. 2:12 (fig. 1).

Exhibited

British Museum, London (on loan).

Humphrey Trevelyan, Baron Trevelyan(1905-1985)

At home, Belgravia, London25 March 1977

Catalogue Note

Well potted and embellished with vivid red decoration, this exceptional bowl is one the highest quality examples of its type still extant, devoid of the dark black spots and blurring so often found on copper red pieces. Capable of producing the most dazzling of designs yet notoriously difficult to control in firing, copper red pigments were likely both adored and detested by the imperial potters of Jingdezhen. Although porcelain decorated in underglaze red was produced in large quantities – particularly in the Hongwu period – the temperamental nature of the medium and its very low success rate led the technique to be largely abandoned after the Xuande period. 

Compare a related bowl preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing, of similar design but for a more common chrysanthemum scroll and lotus roundel to the interior, illustrated in Imperial Porcelains from the Reigns of Hongwu and Yongle in the Ming Dynasty, Beijing, 2015, cat. no. 7, alongside a misfired underglaze blue example excavated from the Hongwu stratum at Dongmentou, Jingdezhen in 1994, cat. no. 8; another, of the same conventional design, preserved in the Palace Museum, Taipei, exhibited in Mingdai chunian ciqi tezhan [Special exhibition of Early Ming porcelain], Taipei, 1982, cat. no. 51; and two more, mounted with gilt metal rims, in the Shanghai Museum, illustrated in Lu Minghua, Mingdai guanyao ciqi [Ming imperial porcelain], Shanghai, 2007, pls 1-1 and 4-8.

Bowls of this form were produced in a variety of related floral designs but, to date, no other examples of this type are known – featuring a chrysanthemum in the centre surrounded by four detached sprays of different species. Compare two closely related examples featuring detached sprays around a central lotus: one illustrated in Mayuyama, Seventy Years, vol. I, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 730; the other sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 24th November 1981, lot 132. Compare also the bowl from the Hosokawa Collection, with similar detached flower sprays to the exterior, illustrated in Sekai Toji Zenshu / Ceramic Art of the World, vol. 14, Tokyo, 1976, pls 4 and 5.

Famed diplomat and author, Sir Humphrey Trevelyan (1905-1985) was an active member of the foreign service until his retirement in 1965. Stationed as chargé d’affaires in Beijing from 1953 - 1955, Trevelyan soon built up a collection of Chinese works of art which, at its height, included a number of fine copper-red pieces, including two copper-red yuhuchun vases, one of which was sold in these rooms, 2nd April 1974, lot 193, and again at Christie’s New York, 22nd March 2019, lot 1624.

FAQ: Underglaze Red Bowl from the Hongwu Period

1. What makes this underglaze red bowl so special?

This bowl is an exceptional example of underglaze red porcelain from the Hongwu period (1368-1398) due to its vivid red decoration and high-quality craftsmanship. Unlike many copper red pieces that suffer from black spots and blurring, this bowl exhibits a pure and vibrant red color. This is significant because copper red pigments were notoriously difficult to control during firing, making successfully produced pieces like this one rare and highly prized.

2. Are there any other bowls like this one?

While bowls of this form with various floral designs exist, no other known example features the same distinct decoration as this bowl: a central chrysanthemum surrounded by four detached sprays of different flower species. Similar bowls exist with a central lotus instead of a chrysanthemum, and others showcase a more common chrysanthemum scroll and lotus roundel design.

3. Where has this bowl been exhibited or published?

This bowl has a notable history:

• Exhibited: It was on loan to the British Museum in London.

• Published:John Addis, 'A Group of Underglaze Red', Transactions of The Oriental Ceramic Society, vol. 31, London, 1957-1958, pl. 1.a.

• Catalogue of Late Yuan and Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, pl. 2:12 (fig. 1).

4. What is the condition of the bowl?

The bowl has undergone some restoration. A triangular section on the rim, approximately 8 cm wide, was broken into two pieces and has been repaired. There are also several hairlines extending from the rim. All of these areas were stabilized using rivets, which have been replaced and restored.

5. Who owned this bowl previously?

The bowl comes from a distinguished provenance:

• Lord Humphrey Trevelyan (1905-1985): A British diplomat who served as chargé d’affaires in Beijing, known for his collection of Chinese art.

• Hon. Kate Trevelyan (b. 1943): Inherited the bowl from her father, Lord Trevelyan.

6. What is underglaze red decoration?

Underglaze red is a type of ceramic decoration where a copper-based pigment is applied directly to the unfired porcelain body. It is then covered with a clear glaze and fired at high temperatures. The copper oxide in the pigment turns red during firing, creating the distinctive decoration.

7. Why was underglaze red production largely abandoned after the Xuande period?

The production of underglaze red porcelain was challenging due to the unpredictable nature of copper red pigments. Achieving the desired vibrant red color was difficult, and the success rate was very low. This led to the technique being largely abandoned after the Xuande period (1426-1435) in favor of more reliable decorative methods.

8. What is the estimated value of this bowl?

The bowl has an estimated auction value between 150,000 and 300,000 GBP. This reflects its rarity, the quality of its decoration, its historical significance, and its prestigious provenance.

Timeline of Events:

Hongwu Period (1368-1398):

• Large-scale production of underglaze red porcelain begins at the Jingdezhen imperial kilns, using copper-based pigments.

• The unpredictable nature of copper red firing leads to a low success rate, with many pieces exhibiting imperfections like dark spots and uneven coloration.

Xuande Period (1425-1435):

• Production of underglaze red porcelain declines and is largely abandoned due to its technical challenges.

1953-1955:

• Sir Humphrey Trevelyan, British diplomat, acquires the underglaze red bowl while stationed in Beijing.

1957-1958:

• The bowl is published in the Transactions of The Oriental Ceramic Society, vol. 31, in an article by John Addis titled "A Group of Underglaze Red."

1974:

• One of Trevelyan's copper-red yuhuchun vases is sold at Sotheby's London.

1981:

• A bowl with a similar floral design to the Trevelyan bowl is sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong.

1982:

• An underglaze red bowl with a more common chrysanthemum and lotus design is exhibited in Taipei at the "Special exhibition of Early Ming porcelain."

1994:

• A misfired underglaze blue and red bowl is excavated in Jingdezhen, providing further evidence of production during the Hongwu period.

2001:

• The Trevelyan bowl is featured in the "Catalogue of Late Yuan and Ming Ceramics in the British Museum."

2007:

• Two underglaze red bowls with gilt metal rims are published in Lu Minghua's book, "Mingdai guanyao ciqi" (Ming imperial porcelain).

2015:

• Another underglaze red bowl with a chrysanthemum and lotus design is published in the book "Imperial Porcelains from the Reigns of Hongwu and Yongle in the Ming Dynasty."

2019:

• Trevelyan's copper-red yuhuchun vase is sold again at Christie's New York.

Undated:

• The Trevelyan bowl is loaned to the British Museum for display.

Cast of Characters:

Sir Humphrey Trevelyan (1905-1985): A British diplomat and author who served as chargé d'affaires in Beijing from 1953 to 1955. During his time in China, he amassed a collection of Chinese art, including the underglaze red bowl and at least two copper-red yuhuchun vases.

Kate Trevelyan (b. 1943): Daughter of Sir Humphrey Trevelyan and inheritor of his collection, including the underglaze red bowl.

John Addis: An author and scholar of Chinese ceramics who published an article on underglaze red porcelain in the Transactions of The Oriental Ceramic Society (vol. 31, 1957-1958), featuring the Trevelyan bowl.

Lu Minghua: Author of "Mingdai guanyao ciqi" (Ming imperial porcelain), published in 2007. The book includes images of two underglaze red bowls with gilt metal rims from the Shanghai Museum.

Jingdezhen Imperial Potters: The skilled artisans who worked at the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen during the Ming dynasty, responsible for producing both successful and flawed underglaze red porcelain.