Lot 84
The porcelain plaque features a vigorous dragon painted in monochromatic ink, exhaling water, with swirling clouds emanating from its movements. The dragon's coiling body weaves through the clouds, with its powerful claws and dynamic expression capturing a sense of vitality. The meticulous painting style conveys grandeur and an ethereal presence, evoking classical Chinese poetic imagery of dragons soaring through cosmic realms.
In the bottom right corner of the plaque are two red seals, "Tao" and "Zhu" seals frequently used by Tang Ying, a prominent imperial porcelain craftsman of the Qing dynasty. Tang Ying regarded this seal as symbolic of his craft, with its meaning rooted in ancient texts, signifying transformation and mastery.
Tang Ying, an admirer of dragon imagery, often illustrated ink dragons and penned poetry that complemented his pieces. His poem collection, Tao Ren Xin Yu, includes several dragon-themed poems. One such poem appears on an ink-painted dragon brush pot held by the Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, capturing a majestic image of a dragon resonant with Chen Rong's Song-dynasty ink dragon paintings. This artistry reflects Tang Ying's deep admiration for the dragon motif and his sophisticated, expressive approach to porcelain painting.
This seven-character quatrain about the ink dragon is also inscribed on a celestial vase with the Tao Jun mark by Tang Ying, formerly held by the China National Arts and Crafts Import and Export Corporation. Both this piece and the museum collection mentioned are available for reference. Inkstone screens were especially popular during the Qianlong period, prized as refined scholarly desk items.This piece combines the artistry of ceramics and painting, embodying the elegance of Song dynasty aesthetics and exuding a refined scholarly charm. It parallels the ink-painted dragon brush pot and the ink dragon celestial vase, displaying a unique artistry distinctive to Tang Ying¡¯s craft. As a sophisticated desk piece crafted by Tang Ying himself, it serves as a rare testament to his years in porcelain production, enhancing its value as a collector's item.
清乾隆 唐英 「陶」 「鑄」款 墨彩雲龍圖硯屏
瓷板正面以墨彩繪蒼龍吐水，雲氣翻湧從龍而動，龍躯騰挪隱現雲間，龍爪虬勁有力，龍首鬚髮皆張，龍口吐出甘霖，遍撒人間。整幅瓷畫繪製細膩有力，氣勢飄渺磅礴，頗有「扶河漢，觸華嵩。普厥施，收成功。騎元氣，遊太空」之意。瓷板右下方鈐繪紅彩連珠篆書方印「陶」「鑄」，此為唐英自製瓷器中的常用印章，以「陶鑄」自喻制陶之人，典出《墨子·耕柱》：「昔者夏后開使蜚廉，折金於山川，而陶鑄之於昆吾。」
唐英生前喜繪墨龍，其詩集《陶人心語》收錄多首畫龍詩，這些墨彩穿雲龍亦多繪於其自製瓷器之上。香港中文大學文物館藏唐英製墨彩雲龍紋筆筒上題詩云：「指日春雷震太空，甲鱗頭角動英雄。乘雲帶雨飛千里，吸霧呼風上九重。擲杖葛陂仙法大，點睛僧壁巧人同。恩波挑浪溶溶暖，一任遨遊四海中。」筒身墨龍氣韻頗似宋代陳容墨龍圖。
此詩亦題於原中國文物總店藏唐英製「陶鈞」款墨彩雲龍詩文天球瓶之上，此兩件博物館典藏可資參考。乾隆時期砚屏極為流行，作為文房雅器廣受文人雅士喜愛。本品融陶瓷丹青為一體，韻承宋時之氣，儒雅隽永，與墨龍筆筒、墨龍天球瓶有異曲同工之妙，是唐英自製文房雅器中的珍品，亦為其多年主持御窯工坊榷陶之實物見證，殊為難得，愈顯珍貴。
參閱：
清乾隆「陶鈞」款墨彩雲龍紋題詩天球瓶，原中國文物總店藏，《中國古代陶瓷藝術—明清彩瓷與顏色釉》，2007，頁178至頁181。
清乾隆 墨彩雲龍紋筆筒，香港中文大學文物館藏。
源流：
香港重要私人藏家舊藏。
24.5cm high; 14.5cm wide
Estimate $7,000 - $9,000
Overall in good condition.
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The opinions expressed in the condition reports are a guide only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Prospective buyers are encouraged to seek further information or request additional images during our pre-sale period where Leonard Joel staff are available for advice. Please note condition reports can be amended during the pre-sale period, so we strongly suggest any interested bidders check the published condition report available on the website before the auction commences. Leonard Joel makes no guarantee of the originality of mechanical or applied components. Absence of reference to such modifications does not imply that a lot is free from modifications.
An important private collection, Hong Kong.
Fine Chinese and Asian Art
AUCTION
Sale: LJ8763
11:00am - 2 March 2025
Hawthorn
VIEWING
Thurs 27 Feb - Sat 1 Mar, 10am - 4pm
2 Oxley Rd, Hawthorn VIC
CONTACT
Luke Guan
asianart@leonardjoel.com.au
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