A LARGE FAMILLE ROSE 'MAGU, HE XIANGU AND LAN CAIHE' BRUSHPOT, BITONG, 18TH CENTURY Opinion: The present lot belongs to a coveted group of porcelain brush pots made during the 18^th century, which has seen a surge of modern fakes entering the market, with buyers reacting accordingly; today only pieces in perfect condition, with well-documented old provenances, and exhibiting a superior quality of painting will find the interest of serious buyers. The present lot boasts all three of the aforementioned features.

China. Sturdily potted, the cylindrical vessel is painted to the sides in bright enamels, gilt and iron-red above the glaze with the three immortals in a fenced garden amid gnarled trees, craggy rockwork, and precious objects, each wearing loose-fitting and finely patterned robes. Magu is seated on a spotted deer with a lingzhi sprig in its mouth, Lan Caihe holds a vase with flowers in both hands and He Xiangu is accompanied by a crane. Covered in a transparent glaze, the base with a small countersunk center within a broad unglazed ring.

Provenance: Binsted Antiques, Teddington, Middlesex, United Kingdom, 25 November 1985. Collection of S.J. Castello, Esq., London, acquired from the above. A copy of the original invoice from Binsted Antiques, written and signed by the owner C.J. Wills, addressed to S.J. Castello, dated 25 November 1985, dating the brush pot to the “late 18^th century”, accompanies this lot.
Condition: The bitong is in magnificent condition with only minor old wear and expected small firing irregularities. The wood stand is warped and does not fit well, it also shows age cracks, chips, and losses.

Weight: 1,803 g (excl. stand)
Dimensions: Diameter 19.2 cm

With a finely carved and pierced wood stand dating from the Qing dynasty. (2)

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 21 September 2004, lot 341
Price: USD 47,800 or approx. EUR 73,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An unusual famille rose brushpot, bitong, 18^th century
Expert remark: Compare the form, the elaborate scene which completely lacks decorative borders, the spirited yet remarkably elaborate manner of painting, the base with its similarly countersunk center and broad unglazed ring. Also note the similar size (17.5 cm).


十八世紀大型粉彩麻姑筆筒
中國。胎體厚重，圓柱形容器，外壁明亮粉彩琺瑯描繪園中三位神女，可見麻姑、何仙姑和藍采和，身著仙袍。麻姑坐在梅花鹿身上，鹿嘴裡叼著一根靈芝。四周的樹木與假山。藍采和手捧花瓶，一旁何仙姑與一隻鶴為伴。 底座覆蓋透明釉，底部圈足有一個小孔。

專家注釋：這是一個十八世紀的筆筒。贗品大量湧入市場的今天，這樣一個品相完美、來源有據可查、畫作上乘的筆筒，一定會引起認真的買家的興趣。

來源：英國米德爾塞克斯的泰丁敦Binsted古玩，1985年11月25日；倫敦S.J. Castello收藏，購於上述藝廊。隨附一份古玩店的發票副本，發票上由店主 C.J. Wills簽名，收件人爲S.J. Castello，時間爲1985年11月25日，將這件筆筒描述爲“十八世紀末”。
品相：筆筒品相華美，輕微磨損和預期的輕微燒製瑕疵。木架翹曲，出現老化裂縫、磕損。

重量：1,803 克（不含底座）
尺寸：直徑19.2 厘米

清代木底座。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2004年9月21日，lot 341
價格：USD 47,800（相當於今日EUR 73,500）
描述：十八世紀粉彩筆筒
專家評論：比較形式，精心設計的場景完全沒有裝飾邊框，精神飽滿而又非常精緻的繪畫方式，底部內凹圈足、覆蓋透明釉。請注意尺寸類似(17.5 厘米)。