A famille-verte ewer and cover

Kangxi period (1662-1722) 

The ewer is of pear shape with a small triangular spout and large handle and is supported on a flaring foot. The exterior is painted in bright colours highlighted in gilt with a bird perched on large flowering branches of peony looking up at a phoenix in flight. Two butterflies are hovering beside. The domed cover is painted with a stylized flower head and issuing floral sprigs.

23.5 cm high

Provenance:

A Swedish private collection

The shape of this ewer is derived from a silver or faience model. A ewer of similar shape but with a figural scene in Imari palette is illustrated in Christiaan Jörg, Chinese Export Porcelain, Chine de Commande from the Royal Museum of Art and History in Brussels, 1989, pl.14.