Lot 045 A PAIR OF BLUE AND WHITE AND UNDERGLAZE-RED ‘FIGURES’ HAT STANDS LATE QING DYNASTY – REPUBLIC PERIOD

Description

A PAIR OF BLUE AND WHITE AND UNDERGLAZE-RED ‘FIGURES’ HAT STANDS
LATE QING DYNASTY – REPUBLIC PERIOD
晚清至民国 青花釉里红人物故事纹帽筒（一对）
MEASUREMENTS
H. 28.5 cm (11.2 in.); 28.4 cm (11.2 in.)
ESTIMATE
CAD 2.000 —3.000
Each hat stand is of a classic cylindrical “sleeve” form, featuring deep sides, a slightly flared rim, and a flat unglazed base. The porcelain is of a fine, compact quality, covered in a brilliant and lustrous white glaze. The exterior of the pair is vibrantly decorated in a combination of underglaze blue and underglaze red, depicting spirited narrative scenes from traditional Chinese lore. The figures are captured with expressive faces and dynamic postures, rendered in varying shades of cobalt blue. The underglaze copper-red is expertly applied to highlight the craggy rockwork and landscape elements, creating a striking visual contrast. The compositions are framed by delicate bands of geometric diaper patterns and scrolling foliage at the rim and base, adding a sophisticated structural rhythm to the design.
此对帽筒呈经典圆柱直筒形，造型挺拔，比例匀称。胎质坚实细腻，通体施白釉，釉面莹润如脂。器身采用青花釉里红双色工艺，描绘了生动传神的传统人物故事场景：人物形神兼备，笔触细腻流畅。匠人巧用青花点染衣褶发须，并以发色沉稳的釉里红涂抹怪石山景，红蓝对比鲜明，意趣横生。口沿与近足处辅以精美的几何锦地纹及卷草纹，构图层次清晰。作为晚清民初典型的陈设雅具，此对帽筒不仅工艺考究，更兼具极佳的观赏性。
Hat stands (maotong) became a quintessential fixture of the Chinese domestic interior during the 19th and early 20th centuries, serving both as functional objects for the official’s headgear and as elegant canvases for artistic expression. This specific pair showcases the high technical control required for underglaze copper-red, a notoriously difficult pigment to fire successfully alongside cobalt blue. The “Figures in Landscape” motif often carried moral or historical lessons, reflecting the scholarly aspirations of the household. Standing at over 28 cm, this matching pair represents the peak of domestic ceramic refinement during the late Qing and Republic era, blending functional utility with the enduring beauty of underglaze polychrome art.
帽筒始于清代嘉庆年间，至晚清民初成为书香门第与达官显贵厅堂内必备的陈设。除放置官帽外，亦常被视为案头装饰，反映主人的审美品味。青花与釉里红由于对窑火温度的要求各异，能同时在一件器物上呈现出如此稳定的发色，实属难得。此对帽筒构图疏密有致，山石与人物的组合极具文人画意趣。成对保存完好且高度几乎一致，不仅具有很高的历史价值，亦是不可多得的室内陈设珍品。
CONDITION REPORT
• Condition: Both stands are in overall very good condition. The blue and red underglaze colors are well-preserved and stable. Expected minor age-appropriate wear to the rims and natural kiln firing imperfections. No major chips or restorations detected.
• 状况： 一对整体品相良好。青花与釉里红发色稳定，保存完好。见时代特征之极轻微口沿磨损及少量自然窑斑（缩釉点）。经检测无任何重大崩口、裂纹或修复迹象。