Lot 56: Blue and White Meiping Vase 青花折枝瑞果纹梅瓶

来源：于八十年代购自香港古玩街古董商店
Provenance: Acquired from an antique shop on Hong Kong’s Antique Street in the 1980s

Diameter 口径 4.5 cm Height 高 28 cm Foot Diameter 足径 11.2 cm

Estimate 估价: SGD 700,000 – SGD 1,200,000
Starting Price 起拍价: SGD 500,000

卷唇，短束颈，溜肩，平底。通体以青花装饰，颈部素纹，肩部饰莲瓣纹一周，器身饰福寿三多折枝花果图，近足饰叠叶芭蕉纹。器形规整硕大，青花料发色浓艳，光彩夺目，为宣德青花大器之精品。

梅瓶为明代宫廷御用储酒器，此件以折枝瑞果为饰，体现了明代早期瓷器装饰的吉祥寓意与审美趣味。

The meiping has a rolled lip, a short waisted neck, sloping shoulders and a flat base. It is decorated throughout in underglaze blue. The neck is left plain, the shoulder encircled by a band of lotus petals, and the body painted with sprays of auspicious flowers and fruits representing the “Three Abundances” of blessings and longevity. The area above the foot is decorated with overlapping plantain leaves. The form is regular and imposing in size, while the cobalt blue is rich, vivid and brilliantly lustrous, making this an exceptional example of a large Xuande blue-and-white vessel.

The meiping was used at the Ming court as a wine-storage vessel. Decorated with sprays of auspicious fruits, the present example reflects the auspicious symbolism and refined aesthetic taste characteristic of early Ming porcelain decoration.