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VIETNAM, Nguyen Dynasty, Reign of Gia Long (1802-1820)
A ver…
See original version (French)
329
-
VIETNAM, Nguyen Dynasty, Reign of Gia Long (1802-1820)
A ver…
See original version (French)
Estimate €10,000 - €15,000
Voluntary lot
Description
VIETNAM, Nguyen Dynasty, Reign of Gia Long (1802-1820)
A very rare "Bleu de Hué" porcelain water pipe, mounted on a short stem, the globular body delicately decorated in cobalt blue on a white ground with five-clawed imperial dragons chasing the sacred pearl amidst clouds, the domed lid with the same decoration. With metal mounting and basket handle.
Height: 16.5 cm
Diameter: 10 cm
(The original metal neck is now missing)
The porcelain water pipes produced during the reign of Gia Long bear witness to a refined art linked to the consumption of tobacco and, more rarely, opium in the privileged circles of the Vietnamese imperial court. The use of water to filter and soften the smoke was part of a sensory and ritualised experience, involving a carefully crafted set of utensils. Produced in Hué blue porcelain of great technical finesse, this piece illustrates the high degree of mastery achieved by the imperial workshops. The quality of its decoration and the elegance of its form make it part of a prestigious production, most likely intended for court use, or even for the emperor's direct entourage.
Provenance: - Danish collection
See original version (French)
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