A BLUE AND WHITE 'ROMANCE OF THE WESTERN CHAMBER' BEAKER VASE, 17TH CENTURY China. Painted in shades of brilliant cobalt with a scene from Romance of the Western Chamber, depicting the moment when Zhang Gong, accompanied by a monk, first sees Cui Yingying and her handmaid Hongniang. The underside of the rim and the edge of the base delicately incised with parallel bands visible beneath the transparent glaze. Provenance: From a private collection in New York, USA. Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and firing flaws, such as pitting and dark spots. Weight: 4,160 g Dimensions: Height 46 cm With a band of pomegranates and leaves to the slightly raised mid-section, and a band of pendent leaves descending toward the spreading edge of its unglazed base. Romance of the Western Chamber is one of the most famous Chinese dramatic works. It was written by the Yuan dynasty playwright Wang Shifu and set during the Tang dynasty. Known as China's most popular romantic comedy, it is the story of a young couple consummating their love without parental approval. Literature comparison: For a vase of similar form and scale, see Michael Butler et al, Shunzhi Porcelain, Treasures from an Unknown Reign, Seattle, 2002, pp. 186-7, no. 55. Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related blue and white beaker vase, dated to the transitional period, at Bonhams San Francisco in Fine Asian Works of Art on 7 June 2005, lot 2175, sold for USD 28,200. Note the similar manner of paintings, particularly evident in the treatment of the rocks and terrace ground. Compare also a related blue and white beaker vase, dated to the Chongzhen reign (1628-1644), at Christie's New York in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 21 March 2014, lot 2138, sold for USD 32,500. Note that this vase shows a scroll band between the incised lines below the rim. 十七世紀青花《西廂記》場景花觚 中國。青花彩繪花觚分三層場景。第一層為《西廂記》場景，描繪了張生在僧人的陪同下第一次見到崔鶯鶯和婢女紅娘的情景。中間一層為石榴紋。第三層為芭蕉葉紋，其上有兩道綫條清晰的平行弦紋。 來源：美國紐約私人收藏 品相：狀況極好，輕微磨損，燒製缺陷如點蝕與黑點。 重量：4,160 克 尺寸：高 46 厘米 《西廂記》是中國古代戲劇的經典著作之一，是元代王實甫創作雜劇，以唐朝為背景，被譽為中國最受歡迎的愛情喜劇，講述了一對年輕人在沒有父母同意的情況下，反抗封建禮教，終成眷屬的故事。 文獻比較: 一件相似的花觚，見Michael Butler et al, Shunzhi Porcelain, Treasures from an Unknown Reign, Seattle, 2002, 第186-7頁，圖 55。 拍賣結果比較：比較一件十分相近的青花花觚，過渡時期，見舊金山邦翰思 Fine Asian Works of Art 2005年6月7日lot 2175, 售價USD 28,200。注意繪畫主題十分相似，特別是岩石和亭臺場景的處理；另一件相近的崇禎時期 (1628-1644) 青花花觚，見紐約佳士得 Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 2014年3月21日 lot 2138, 售價USD 32,500。注意底足邊緣處也有兩道平行暗邊。