A COPPER-RED AND UNDERGLAZE BLUE-DECORATED 'XINIU' VASE, KANGXI MARK AND PERIOD China, 1662-1722. Well potted, the baluster body rising from a short tapered foot to a waisted neck with lipped rim. Zestfully painted in deep copper-red with distinct hues of pink and green, reminiscent of a peach bloom glaze, depicting a whimsical Xiniu gazing up at the full moon, its eye neatly picked out in cobalt blue, covered overall in a transparent glaze with a faint bluish tone. The recessed base with a horizontal underglaze-blue six-character mark da Qing Kangxi nianzhi and of the period.

Provenance: From an old Austrian collection, by repute acquired circa 1930 in a deaccession from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, and thence by descent within the family. The base with an old label, 'K.H.M.' (abbreviation for Kunsthistorisches Museum).
Condition: Very good condition with minor old wear, traces of use and some firing irregularities, including pottery marks, dark spots and glaze crackling to the xiniu. Occasional light scratches.

Weight: 248.0 g
Dimensions: Height 14.5 cm

The Xiniu is a legendary Chinese animal. In ancient texts the term originally meant rhinoceros, but in later periods - after the rhinoceros was extinct - the creature became increasingly mythologized. By the Song dynasty it had entirely become a beast of legend, known only through literary references. Over time its depiction changed to a more bovine appearance, easily identifiable by its curved single horn, located prominently on its head. Supposedly the mythical being used this horn to communicate with the sky, which is why the Xiniu is almost always depicted gazing up at the moon.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 19 September 2014, lot 920
Price: USD 18,750 or approx. EUR 22,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A copper-red and underglaze-blue decorated bottle vase, Kangxi period
Expert remark: Compare the related copper-red decoration, also with pale green shadings and eyes picked out in underglaze blue, as well as the mythical beast motif. Note that the vase does not have a reign mark.


康熙款及年代青花釉裏紅犀牛望月瓶
中國，1662-1722年。瓶口外撇，縮頸，豐肩，圈足外撇。瓶身釉裏紅描繪犀牛望月圖，青花點睛。圈足内青花六字“大清康熙年製”款。

來源：奧地利私人老收藏，據説大約在上世紀三十年代購於維也納藝術史博物館，圈足内有舊標籤注釋“K.H.M.”（維也納藝術史博物館簡稱）在同一家族保存至今。
品相：品相極好，有輕微磨損、使用痕跡和一些燒製瑕疵，包括黑點和開片，局部輕微劃痕。

重量：248.0 克
尺寸：高14.5 厘米

中國傳統文化中傳說犀角好靈，可以通天，故此犀牛為吉祥之物。犀牛望月，意其吉祥，升官之意。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2014年9月19日，lot 920
價格：USD 18,750（相當於今日 EUR 22,000）
描述：康熙年代青花釉裏紅瓶
專家評論：比較相近的釉裏紅，也有淡綠色的陰影和青花點睛，以及神獸紋。請注意此瓶沒有款式。