A PAIR OF FAMILLE VERTE ‘EIGHT HORSES OF MU WANG’ BOWLS, DOUBLE-FISH MARK, KANGXI PERIOD China, 1662-1722. Each with deep rounded sides rising from a tall and slightly spreading foot to an everted rim, and finely painted in bright enamels to the exterior with the Eight Horses of Muwang frolicking or grazing amid tufts of grass and a willow, to the interior center with rockwork, and to the interior rim with shaped reserves enclosing auspicious symbols divided by flowerheads against a black-dotted green ground. The recessed bases each with an underglaze-blue double-fish mark within a double circle.

Provenance: From a Norwegian private collection, acquired in London during the early 1990s. Thence by descent to the last owner.
Condition: One bowl with two minor chips to the rim, associated hairlines and old fills as well as a small shallow chip to the foot. The other bowl with a shallow chip, associated hairline and old fill to rim as well as three further hairlines, all barely visible. Some rubbing to enamels. Minor wear and firing irregularities. Minimal glaze flakes, one with an old minor touchup. For a detailed video of the vase taken under strong blue light, please refer to the department.

Weight: 240.5 g and 245.9 g
Dimensions: Diameter 15.3 cm (each)

Expert’s note: During the early Qing dynasty, up until the 1680s, conditions were unsettled in China and the making of Imperial wares as well as the use of reign marks on porcelain was restricted in various ways. During this period, different types of other marks came into use, including double-fish marks (as found on the present bowls), lingzhi fungus marks, and double circles.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related famille verte bowl depicting the Eight Horses of Mu Wang, also dated to the Kangxi period, of slightly different form, 21.9 cm diameter, at Sotheby’s New York in Kangxi: The Jie Rui Tang Collection on 20 March 2018, lot 365, sold for USD 9,375 (for a single bowl).

康熙時期一對雙魚款硬彩“穆王八馬”碗
中國，1662-1722年。敞口微撇，深腹，直圈足。明亮的琺瑯彩繪在草叢中和柳樹下嬉戲或吃草的八匹馬。碗內中央有岩石紋，内邊沿開光描繪吉祥紋。圈足内雙圈雙魚款。

來源：挪威私人收藏，1990年代購於倫敦，保存至一個收藏者。
品相：一個碗的邊緣有兩個磕損，相關的細裂紋和舊時填充物，以及足部的一個小磕損。另一個碗帶有淺磕損，相關的細裂紋和舊時填充到邊緣，以及另外三個細紋，所有這些幾乎都看不出。琺琅有一些摩擦。輕微磨損和燒製瑕疵。小釉片帶有舊時輕微修飾。有關在強藍光下拍攝的花瓶的詳細影片，請諮詢部門。

重量：240.5 克與 245.9 克
尺寸：直徑都為15.3 厘米

專家注釋：清初至1680年代，中國局勢動盪，御器製作及瓷器年號的使用受到各種限制。在此期間，出現了不同類型的其他款識，包括雙魚款（在現在的碗上可見），靈芝款及雙圈。

拍賣結果比較：比較一件相似的康熙時期硬彩“穆王八馬”碗，直徑21.9 厘米，見紐約蘇富比Kangxi: The Jie Rui Tang Collection 2018年3月20日 lot 365, 售價USD 9,375 (一個碗)。