A RARE BLUE AND WHITE SLEEVE VASE
Chongzhen
Elegantly potted of tapering cylindrical form, rising to a waisted neck and slightly everted rim, painted around the exterior in vibrant tones of cobalt-blue with a continuous scene of a scholar official carrying a hu tablet, attendants behind him carrying a parasol and standards, two boys approach proffering a cap and ritual vessel, all within balustraded garden setting with craggy rocks and V-shaped grass. 45cm (17 3/4in) high.
Footnotes:
明崇禎 青花人物故事圖筒瓶

Provenance: Raymond Riesco (1877-1964)

來源： Raymond Riesco (1877-1964)

Raymond Francis Alfred Riesco, was born in 1877 in Croydon, to a Chilean father and Scottish mother. He married Ada Mary Hovenden in 1914 and they had three children. Moving to Heathfield House in 1925, Raymond transformed the estate from a dilapidated farm to a splendid mansion surrounded by ornate gardens over his 40-year ownership. Notably, he amassed collections of stamps, watercolours, etchings, and Chinese ceramics, the latter acquired through his connection with art dealer Edgar Bluett, despite not personally traveling to China. Raymond passed away in 1964, leaving behind much of his Chinese ceramics to the Museum of Croydon.

The decoration on the present lot is similar to one illustrated on a blue and white garlic-mouth vase, Chongzhen, illustrated in Folklore in Ming and Qing Porcelain, Hong Kong, 2020, pp.24-25, which shows an official carrying a tablet and accompanied by attendants with a parasol and standards. One boy proffers a vase with three arrows and the official points at the sun. Pointing to the sun is a pun for 'soon', while the three arrows in the vase represent 'rank'. All of this symbolises a fast rise in the ranks. Although the decoration on the present lot is slightly different (the official is not pointing at the sun, and there are two boys rather than one), the symbolism is the same, with the boys carrying a cap representing an official post.

During the turbulence of the Chongzhen era, a time marked by political instability and social upheaval, the aspirations of scholars were often directed towards ascending the ranks of the bureaucracy. Amidst the chaos of the declining Ming Dynasty, many intellectuals sought refuge and opportunity within the bureaucratic system, viewing it as a pathway to influence, stability, and prestige. Despite the challenges and uncertainties of the era, the allure of bureaucratic advancement remained strong, offering a sense of purpose and the potential for upward mobility to those who dared to navigate the intricate web of Imperial politics and examinations. Dreams of rising through the ranks of the bureaucracy served as a beacon of hope for scholars amidst the tumultuous landscape of Chongzhen China, driving them to pursue knowledge, cultivate connections, and strive for success in the pursuit of their ambitions. For a discussion about the motif of official appointments on a blue and white brushpot, dated to circa 1640, see J.B.Curtis, Chinese Porcelains of the Seventeenth Century: Landscapes, Scholars' Motifs and Narratives, New York, 1995, p.144, no.61.

restored chip to the rim, approx 2cm x 1cm; some glaze fritting around the mouth rim, nicks, scratches and minor firing imperfections.