Pieces range in age from Neolithic pottery to Chinese export works of the late 18th century, and in price from £2000-£100,000.
Of note among the ceramics is a pair of mid-17th century porcelain rolwagen vases with detachable 19th century ormolu mounts. The vases are painted in underglaze blue and white in High Transitional style with scenes taken directly from woodblock prints.
Interesting is a massive Jiajing mark and period (1522-66) bowl strikingly decorated in inky underglaze blue with two running dragons. Such large vessels have traditionally been termed fish bowls but Mr Keverne cites new evidence from the Ming tombs which suggests they were used as long-burning oil lamps.
Roger Keverne is a published expert on jade which, not surprisngly, is well represented in the show by a number of pieces, among them a white jade leaf cup relating to the famous Shah Jahan cup in the Victoria and Albert Museum, and a Western Han sword guard, still attached to its iron blade and wooden hilt, similar to examples found in the tomb of the King of Nanyue, who died c.122BC.
A group of bronzes from the Warring States period, a most interesting Liao dynasty (907-1125) silver plaque of a guardian warrior, a 1683 silk painting remounted as an eight-panel screen, two reverse glass paintings and a selection of scholar’s obects are among other attractions at the show which is set to close at the end of the month, but just might spill into July.
New light shed on ‘fish’ bowl
MAYFAIR Orientalist Roger Keverne is offering more than 100 objects in his current Summer Exhibition of Fine and Rare Chinese Works of Art and Ceramics at his gallery at 16 Clifford Street, London W1.
