A COBALT-BLUE, IRON-RED, GILT AND BLACK-GLAZED TRIPLE-GOURD VASE
Qing dynasty, probably 19th century
Closely following the Kangxi tradition with graduating sections, the lower section decorated in gilt with four circular panels of vessel groupings reserved on a chrysanthemum ground over a black enamel ground which pools in drips above the biscuit foot, the central section painted in iron-red tones and gilt with four Buddhist lions and flame scrolls set between thin pale-green enamel bands with iron-red flower-heads, the upper cobalt-blue ground section painted in gilt with two descending phoenix and a sun supported on clouds dividing them on each side, the interior rim and base glazed white.
18in (45cm) high
Footnotes:
清 或十九世紀 描金鳳獅博古紋三連葫蘆瓶

Provenance:
James E. Breece III

來源：
James E. Breece III舊藏

An identical triple-gourd vase with the same decoration, dated to late 17th or early 18th century can be found in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Bequest of Mary Clark Thompson) and published on the museum website, Accession Number: 24.80.163.

However, the dating of the famille noire family of ceramics has been controversial for some time. A new school of thought suggests, that many are Kangxi vessels but later re-enameled to cater to 'Western' taste at the turn of the nineteenth century, whilst others suggest that the ceramic vessels themselves are late production also. That some famille noire items, in particular the smaller vessels, are from the Kangxi period, seems not in doubt.

In the case of the triple gourd vase offered here, there are some features that might suggest late manufacture; the minimal loss of gilding, the uneven dribbling of the black glaze at the foot, the heavy weight and the cursory handling of the iron-red flower-heads and light-green enamels at the intersections of each gourd bulb. However, other features, also in common with the Metropolitan Museum example cited above, such as the handling of the iron-red lions, is more in keeping with Kangxi antecedents.