A Forbidden Love Story Immortalised
14th September 2018This vase, lot 329, depicts a well-known story of forbidden love. It is an ancient Chinese story that has been told since the Han Dynasty of the lovers Zhinü and Niulang.
Zhinü was a weaver girl and Niulang a cowherd. Their love was forbidden, so they were banished to opposite sides of the Silver River. Once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month, a flock of magpies formed a bridge to reunite the lovers for one day. Their reunion is celebrated in China with the Qixi festival.
It is included in our 3rd October Furniture, Works of Art & Clocks sale with an estimate of £8,000-12,000.
Watch the video below to see the vase: