Lot 026 A BLUE AND WHITE ‘BING JI WEN NIU’ SLEEVE VASE

Description

“A BLUE AND WHITE ‘BING JI WEN NIU’ SLEEVE VASE
20TH CENTURY
二十世纪 青花“丙吉问牛”人物故事纹筒瓶
MEASUREMENTS
H. 44.6 cm, 17 ⅝ in.
ESTIMATE
USD 2,000 — 3,000
(HKD 15,600 — 23,400)
DESCRIPTION
The vase is elegantly potted in a tall, slender cylindrical form known as a “”sleeve vase”” (tongping), featuring a slightly everted rim, a waisted neck, and sloping shoulders above a flat base. The exterior is vibrantly painted in vivid tones of cobalt blue with the celebrated narrative scene of Bing Ji Wen Niu (Bing Ji Inquiring after the Ox). The composition is meticulously detailed with multiple figures in various spirited poses, set amidst a garden landscape of weeping willows, lush plantains, and craggy scholar’s rocks. The shoulder and neck are further embellished with classic bands of scrolling foliage and ruyi-head motifs.
此瓶呈直筒形，又称“筒瓶”或“象腿瓶”。口微撇，束颈溜肩，平底。通体以青花描绘**“丙吉问牛”**人物故事图。画面中人物神态生动，错落有致。衬景之垂柳、芭蕉及湖石描绘细腻，空间层次感极强。瓶颈与肩部辅以缠枝卷草及如意云头纹，线条流畅。
CATALOGUE NOTE
The “”Sleeve Vase”” form was a quintessential silhouette of the late Ming and early Qing transitional periods, reaching its artistic peak during the Kangxi reign. This 20th-century example pays homage to that glorious tradition, utilizing the “”Five Colors of Blue”” (mufen wucai) technique to achieve a sophisticated ink-wash effect.
The motif, “”Bing Ji Wen Niu””, refers to the Han Dynasty chancellor Bing Ji, who famously prioritized the health of a panting ox over a brawling crowd—a symbol of a wise statesman concerned with the fundamental harmony of nature and the state. Such narrative themes were highly sought after by the literati for their auspicious connotations of social order and academic merit.
筒瓶器形流行于明末清初，尤以康熙朝最为盛行。本品为二十世纪对经典器形的延续与致敬，其青花发色浓郁，展现出**“墨分五彩”**的层次感，笔触极具力度。
所绘**“丙吉问牛”**典故取自《汉书》，讲述汉代名相丙吉不问斗殴而问牛喘，体现了重农恤民、关注民生根本的德治思想。此类题材因其寓意天下太平、政通人和，历来深受文人雅士青睐，具有深厚的文化内涵与吉祥寓意。
CONDITION REPORT
• Condition: In overall good condition. Minor surface wear and occasional firing pinpricks consistent with age.
• 整体品相良好。见微小表面磨损及自然窑针，符合其年代特征。”