A COPPER-RED-GLAZED BEEHIVE WATERPOT, TAIBO ZUN, 18TH CENTURY China. The domed body is covered with a rich glaze transmuting from a dark liver-red tone below the rim to crushed-raspberry above the foot. The interior and base glazed white. The recessed base with an underglaze-blue double-circle.

Provenance: From the collection of the late Michael Sherrard CBE, QC, acquired before 2000 and thence by descent. Michael Sherrard (1928-2012) was an English barrister in fraud and company law who was considered one of the great recent influences on the legal profession. He was involved in numerous high-profile cases in both English and East Asian courts, particularly Hong Kong and Singapore. Together with Linda Goldman, he wrote a memoir titled “Wigs and Wherefores: A Biography of Michael Sherrard QC”. Sherrard was an enthusiastic collector of Chinese art, especially jade carvings.
Condition: Perfect condition with only minor wear and firing irregularities.

Weight: 442.4 g
Dimensions: Diameter 12.7 cm

The taibo zun is of a classic dome shape typical of the Kangxi reign, originally inspired by the wine pot of the legendary Tang dynasty poet, Li Bai (AD 701-762). The poet, notorious for his drinking, is often depicted leaning against a wine jar of this form. The shape is sometimes also referred to as a jizhao zun, as it resembles a chicken coop. In its exquisite copper-red glaze, exhibiting the highest level of control in its transmutation from a dark liver-red to an attractive crushed-raspberry tone, the scholar's vessel has transcended its modest form, strictly limited to function, transformed into a jewel-like object, to be admired and prized.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's London, 15 May 2015, lot 558
Price: GBP 10,625 or approx. EUR 15,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A celadon-glazed beehive water pot, 18^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, monochrome glaze, and non-reign mark, three features common to both this and the present lot. Note the smaller size (5.7 cm)

Auction result comparison:
Type: Remotely related
Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 3 December 2015, lot 4
Price: HKD 1,600,000 or approx. EUR 230,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A small rare copper-red-glazed waterpot, taibo zun, Yongzheng six-character mark and of the period
Expert remark: Compare the similar form and related copper-red glaze. Note the smaller size (5.2 cm) and particularly the Yongzheng mark.


十八世紀銅紅釉太白尊
中國。半球狀腹，通體施銅紅釉，從太白尊邊緣紅褐色至足部鮮亮紅色。尊內和圈足内白色釉，足内青花雙圈。

來源：Michael Sherrard CBE，QC 收藏，於 2000 年之前購買，保存至今。Michael Sherrard (1928-2012年) 是一名英國大律師，被認為是近期對法律界產生重大影響的人物之一。 他在英國和東亞法院，尤其是香港和新加坡，參與了多起著名案件。 他與Linda Goldman一起寫了一本回憶錄，題為《Wigs and Wherefores: A Biography of Michael Sherrard QC》。 Sherrard 是一位熱心的中國藝術品收藏家，尤其喜愛玉雕。
品相：狀況極好，輕微的磨損和燒製瑕疵。

重量：442.4 克
尺寸：直徑12.7 厘米

太白尊為康熙時期的經典造型，因摹仿詩人、酒仙李太白的酒壇而得名，又因形似圈雞用的罩，還有"雞罩尊"之稱。高溫銅釉，溫度極難掌握，釉色如紅寶石般優美，非常名貴。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦佳士得，2015年5月15日，lot 558
價格：GBP 10,625（相當於今日EUR 15,500）
描述：十八世紀青釉太白尊
專家評論：比較非常相近的外型、單色釉，以及沒有底部款識，此三個特點和現拍品相同。請注意尺寸較小 (5.7 厘米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：稍微相近
拍賣：香港邦瀚斯，2015年12月3日，lot 4
價格：HKD 1,600,000（相當於今日EUR 230,500）
描述：清雍正霽紅釉水丞，青花「大清雍正年製」楷書款
專家評論：比較相似的外型和相近的釉色。請注意尺寸較小 (5.2 厘米) ，且有雍正款識。