HSINP1 Hsiang, Yuan-pien (Kuo Pao-ch’ang & Ferguson, John ed.): NOTED PORCELAINS OF SUCCESSIVE DYNASTIES. 歷代名瓷圖譜 。 項元汴. Peking, 1931. 83 folded leaves. Chinese and English text. 86 colour plates. 40x28 cm. Yellow silk, elaborate silk-case. GBP 4,500.00 This is the 1931 edition. Revised and annotated by Kuo Pao-ch'ang (Guo Baochang) and John C. Ferguson. For more detail on this book, see Sir Perceval David's article in Transactions OCS: 11 (1933) "Hsiang and His Album". In brief, Hsiang came from a wealthy mandarin family in Zhejiang. Collecting was his passion and he led a quiet life (1525-1590) within a broad circle of literati and connoisseurs. He added extensively to the family's art collections which became renowned for their quality, and he for his collector's eye. The family collection was ransacked and brought to Peking at the beginning of the Qing dynasty. The work 'Noted Porcelains' (purportedly based on Hsiang's ceramic collection) emerged from obscurity in 1885 and this edition was prepared from a copy of the original purchased by Bushell - the original having been destroyed by fire. The book has a fascinating and somewhat controversial history but stands primarily as a beautifully printed and bound record of a famous Ming dynasty collection with lovely colour illustrations. A very good copy with just a couple of slight marks to the silk covers. In the original Chinese-style yellow silk case which has some wear and marks but which is generally intact. Loss of one toggle and wear to the other. Subjects: Ceramics Item 23 in List 209. URL for this record: hanshan.com/?h/HSINP1.HTM Record produced by Hanshan Tang Books, www.hanshan.com. |