Cylindrical vase
mid- 17th century
These characters are from the 14th-century epic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Part of a brotherhood sworn to reestablish the Han dynasty after its 3rd-century fall, Lord Guan Yu wields the halberd Blue Dragon, a legendary weapon standing for his martial prowess and heroic deeds. His companions are his son Guan Ping, his horse Red Hare, and Zhou Zhuang holding the reins. Porcelains from this period of transition from the Ming to Qing dynasties are known for their artistic freedom and appeal to diverse customers, who enjoyed decorations based on popular literature and theatre.
Porcelain with underglaze cobalt-blue decoration
Height: 17 3/4 in. (45.1 cm)
Diameter 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm)
Gift of William H. Gates and Mimi Gardner Gates
2021.7.2
Provenance: Private collection; [E&J Frankel Ltd. Oriental Art, New York, New York]; [Kenneth W. Rendell Inc., New York, New York]; Bill and Melinda Gates, Seattle, Washington; to William H. Gates (1925-2020) and Mimi Gardner Gates, Seattle, Washington, 1996; to Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington, 2021