White porcelain double-gourd vase glazed in blue underglaze, - Lot 21

White porcelain double-gourd vase glazed in blue underglaze, decorated with figures in landscapes, China, Transition period, circa 1640 Globular in shape, the body is decorated with a figure slightly prostrate before a scholar followed by his three assistants holding a canopy, a qin wrapped in cloth and a fan. They stand in a garden among bamboos, pines, pierced rocks and mountains. Friezes decorate the top of the bowl. The slightly swollen top features two scholars seated under trees among rocks. The neck is adorned with two tulip flowers with leaves and two precious objects, the fangsheng rhombus and the zhu pearl. Height: approx. 33 cm; total height: 52 cm Mounted as a lamp. The "tulip" motif on the neck of the vase is typical of the Transitional period and of a category of Oriental-inspired vases or double-gourds. The origin of this tulip, unknown in the Chinese decorative register, could either come from Turkey, with which China maintained trade relations and where it has adorned Iznik earthenware since 1525-1540, or from Holland, where the tulip was imported from Turkey in the 16th century and became a recurrent motif on Delft porcelain in the 17th century. This type of vase was destined for Holland, and the "tulip" motif did not persist beyond the Transition period.