A RARE TEADUST-GLAZED ZHADOU, QIANLONG MARK AND PROBABLY OF THE PERIOD
China, 1736-1795 or slightly later. An elegant and simple vessel with a sharply waisted mid-section, covered overall in a perfectly even olive-green glaze that thins precisely at the mouth. The foot dressed with a brown wash. The recessed base incised with a four-character seal mark Qianlong nianzhi and probably of the period.


Provenance
: Collection of Samuel C. Davis (d. 1940), and thence by descent, according to remnants of an ancient paper label inscribed ‘[...] 2970 […]’ from the Davis Company (see image) found on the base of the present lot. The label was subsequently removed and secured by a professional paper restorer. A private collection in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, acquired from the above, and thence by descent. Samuel C. Davis was the son of a prominent family in St. Louis and gained his interest in Chinese ceramics while embarking on a world tour after graduating from Harvard University in 1893 and also from attending the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition where there were displays of Asian art. He purchased many pieces from famed art dealer C. T. Loo. Upon his death in 1940, he bequeathed porcelains from his collection to the St. Louis Museum of Art and to his alma mater Harvard University’s Fogg Museum of Art, leaving further pieces to several family members.

Condition
: Excellent condition with minor wear and firing irregularities. Traces of use and faint soiling to the interior. The mark shows areas of misfiring.

Weight: 199.6 g
Dimensions: Height 6.3 cm, Width 7.3 cm


The shape of this object
finds its inspiration in the zhadou of the Tang dynasty. These vessels have been described as spittoons (or cuspidors), used by the higher social classes to elegantly align with the era’s emphasis on social etiquette and hygiene practices, and as jars used to hold table refuse, such as food scraps and dregs of tea or wine. Although the actual usage of these jars may be disputed, their presence in noble residences, palaces, and formal settings symbolized adherence to decorum. The enduring continuity of their shape over the centuries stands as a testament to their lasting cultural significance, even as their practical function diminished over time.


During the Qing Dynasty
, porcelains made for very specific purposes, such as the present lot, held significant cultural and aesthetic importance amongst scholars, literati, and nobility of the period. These small yet highly valued objects exemplified the refined tastes of the time and served as a testament to the technical prowess of Jingdezhen potters. Additionally, they satisfied a nostalgic yearning for designs reminiscent of past centuries.


Literature comparison:

Compare a related celadon-glazed zhadou, 7.6 cm diameter, dated 18th-19th century, in the Art Institute of Chicago, reference number 1941.767.2. Although not as well fired as the current lot, or the referenced auction comparable from Sotheby’s, it provides a good basis for assessing the appropriate size for this type of porcelain, which is in-line with the dimensions of the current lot.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 September 2022, lot 921
Price: USD 81,900 or approx.
EUR 78,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A small teadust-glazed hu-form vase, Qianlong four-character incised seal mark and of the period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related teadust glaze and Qianlong four-character incised seal mark. Note the size (10 cm) as well as the different form. The mark also shows areas of misfiring.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s London, 7 November 2012, lot 70
Price: GBP 49,250 or approx.
EUR 88,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare celadon-glazed cuspidor, Yongzheng/Qianlong period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and size (6.7 cm). This zhadou also has a four-character mark (Jingwei Tang zhi), which is typical for porcelains of a smaller size. Note the different glaze.




乾隆款茶葉末釉渣斗

中國，1736-1795年或稍晚。胎體細膩，瓷質堅密，釉面勻淨，釉色黃綠摻雜似茶葉細末。渣鬥上部分如茶盞，敞口，縮頸，腹部如倒扣的茶盞。圈足內刻有“乾隆年製”四字篆書款，可能是該時期的。


來源：
Samuel C. Davis（卒於1940 年) 的收藏，在同一家族傳承，根據戴維斯公司(Davis Company) 的紙質標籤上面刻有“ [...] 2970 [...]”（見圖）。 該標籤隨後被專業紙張修復師移除並固定。美國馬薩諸塞州波士頓的私人收藏，購自上述人士，並由其後裔繼承。Samuel C. Davis 來自聖路易斯名門望族，1893 年從哈佛大學畢業後開始環遊世界，並參加了1904 年路易斯安那博覽會，由此對中國陶瓷產生了興趣。他從著名藝術品經銷商 C. T. Loo 那裡購買了許多藏品。1940 年去世前，他將自己收藏的瓷器贈給了聖路易斯藝術博物館和他的母校哈佛大學福格藝術博物館，也將更多收藏留給了幾位家庭成員。

品相：
狀況良好，有輕微磨損和燒製不規則。內部有使用痕跡和輕微的污垢。款識了有燒製痕跡。

重量：199.6 克
尺寸：高 6.3 厘米, 寬 7.3 厘米


文獻比較：

比較一件相近的十八至十九世紀青釉渣斗，直徑7.6厘米，收藏於芝加哥藝術館，館藏編號1941.767.2。雖然燒製程度不如本拍品或拍賣比較中的蘇富比拍品，但它為評估此類瓷器的合適尺寸提供了良好的範例，與本拍品的尺寸相符。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2022年9月23日，lot 921
價格：USD 81,900（相當於今日
EUR 78,500
）
描述：清乾隆茶葉末釉貫耳壺
專家評論：比較非常相近茶葉末釉和乾隆款。請注意尺寸(10厘米) ，以及不同的外形。底部圈足有燒製痕跡。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦蘇富比，2012年11月7日，lot 70
價格：GBP 49,250（相當於今日
EUR 88,000
）
描述：清雍正/乾隆粉青釉盤口水盂 《敬畏堂製》款
專家評論：比較非常相近的外形和尺寸(6.7厘米)。有《敬畏堂製》款，尺寸較小。請注意不同的釉面。