A FINE AND RARE CHINESE IMPERIAL WUCAI 'ODE TO THE RED CLIFF' WINE CUP SIX CHARACTER KANGXI...

A FINE AND RARE CHINESE IMPERIAL WUCAI 'ODE TO THE RED CLIFF' WINE CUP

SIX CHARACTER KANGXI MARK AND OF THE PERIOD 1662-1722

With a deep conical body and a gently flaring rim, painted on one side with the poet Su Shi with two friends and an attendant in a flat-bottomed boat floating on calm waters towards a tall overhanging cliff-face, the reverse inscribed with a poem by Su Shi (1037-1101) from the Chibi fu ('Ode to the Red Cliff'), and a seal to the reverse, with a circular paper label for John Sparks to the interior, 5.2cm.

The poem reads: 'I raised my wine cup and toasted my guests, joining them in chanting the Ode to the bright moon and the song of Sylphs'.

The seal reads: 'Elegance'.

Provenance: John Sparks Ltd, and then an English private collection, Dorset, purchased from Sydney L Moss in 1963 for £60.