Lot 361
TWO FAMILLE ROSE EQUESTRIAN FIGURES OF WANG ZHAOJUN
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD, 1736-1795
Fine Asian & Islamic Works of Art
Auction: 3 November 2023 from 09:00 GMT
Description
清乾隆 粉彩王昭君出塞塑像（共兩件）
each finely moulded with the lady wearing an elaborate headdress and colourful costume, playing a string instrument pipa on a piebald horse, all upon a rectangular base
Dimensions
heights: 22.1cm and 22.4cm
Provenance
Provenance: Private collection, London; acquired from Galerie Nicolas Fournery, Paris, one with a circular label from the gallery and hand-written number 'D311' on the underbelly of the horse
Footnote
Note: Wang Zhaojun, also known as Wang Qiang, was known as one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. She was sent by the Han dynasty Emperor Yuan to marry the Xiongnu nomad chieftain Huhanye in an attempt to promote peace and stability between the two courts. The present figures depict an occurrence in Wang's journey north across the steppe, when the beauty of her voice caused a flock of geese to forget to flap their wings and fall to the ground; hence she is also known as 'falling wild goose'. Her image, holding a pipa whilst riding on a horse (see image 1) similar to the present examples, was depicted on a woodblock print book Li Chao Ming Yuan Shi Ci 歷朝名媛詩詞 published in the thirty-eighth year of Qianlong reign, corresponding to 1773AD. A closely comparable example of similar design and colour palette was sold at the Guest & Gray Gallery, London, Ref: Y913.