A Pair Of Doucai Dragon Pattern Decagon Brush Washes, Ming Dynasty, Xuande Period (1368-1644).
This is an extremely rare pair of Doucai dragon-patterned ten-sided washers from the Ming Dynasty, dating to the Xuande period. Currently, there are no records of such porcelain being held in museums or private collections worldwide; nor are there any auction houses that have ever sold a pair of these Xuande-marked Doucai ten-sided washers.
In recent years, auction houses and the collecting world have formed a closed loop, with many items being auctioned multiple times. The source of all the fine pieces is concentrated on foreign collectors. Antiques, after all, exist in China. In the late Qing Dynasty, not only eunuchs but even Empress Dowager Cixi secretly sold antiques, and many exquisite pieces, even unique ones, ended up in private hands. Li Hongzhang, in order to get close to Cixi, bribed the chief eunuch Li Lianying to give him stolen antiques that had been taken from the government, allowing them to be reinstated. I think the people who understand antiques best are still the Chinese, and the place with the most exquisite pieces is also China. Because of this vicious cycle, even the most prestigious auction houses have never seen or auctioned paired masterpieces or unique pieces. Historical records show that porcelain was usually produced in pairs at kilns, but due to war, only one piece of each pair remained. The Taiwanese auction and collecting world also focuses primarily on collectors from Japan. While Japan certainly has excellent collections, their holdings are very limited, which hinders Taiwan's influence. Many fine, unique pieces remain scattered in private hands, which is a great pity.
In recent years, a closed loop has formed between auction houses and the collecting community, with many items—including numerous masterpieces—being resold repeatedly; the focus for sourcing these top-tier pieces has been almost exclusively on Western collections. After all, these antiques originated in China; during the late Qing Dynasty, everyone from court eunuchs to the Empress Dowager Cixi herself engaged in the illicit sale of antiques, allowing many masterpieces—and even unique, one-of-a-kind items—to filter into private hands. Li Hongzhang, for instance, bribed the powerful chief eunuch Li Lianying to gain favor with Cixi; he would take antiques smuggled out of the palace and pass them to Li, who would then reintroduce them into the palace. Logically, the Chinese possess the deepest understanding of these antiques, and China should be the primary repository for such masterpieces. Yet, due to this peculiar cycle, even the most renowned auction houses have rarely—if ever—seen or auctioned pairs of masterpieces or truly unique, singular items. Historical records This indicates that porcelain was typically produced in pairs at the kilns, but the ravages of war often resulted in only one piece of a pair surviving. The auction and collecting circles in Taiwan have focused heavily on sourcing from Japan; while Japan certainly holds fine collections, its scope is limited, which has constrained Taiwan's own market strength. It is a great pity that so many exceptional pieces and unique masterpieces remain scattered among private collectors.
WELCOME TO THE Seattle Oriental Art Collection. Discover a curated selection of exquisite Chinese porcelain antiques, each piece echoing the rich tapestry of China's dynastic history. Our collection spans several significant periods from the Late Tang Dynasty (906–960) to the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912).
Welcome to the Seattle Oriental Art Collection. Explore our carefully selected collection of exquisite Chinese porcelain antiques, each piece showcasing the rich tapestry of China's dynastic history. Our collection spans several important periods from the late Tang Dynasty (906-960) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912).
About Seattle Oriental Art Collection: According to Shanghai's County Records, our grandfather, Cai Baochun, established an antique company in Shanghai and Paris in 1911. Later, he collaborated with C.T. Loo, a prominent antique merchant in Shanghai, serving as an antique supplier in China. This partnership enabled C.T. Loo to introduce Chinese antiques to Europe, establishing him as one of the most influential dealers of his era. Cai Baochun also served as the company's accountant. The Seattle Oriental Art Collection is a trust we have inherited from our family, dedicated to preserving and sharing these timeless treasures. This collaboration enabled Lu Zhiqiang to introduce Chinese antiques to Europe and become one of the most influential antique dealers of the time. Cai Baochun also served as the company's accountant. The Seattle Oriental Art Collection is our inherited family trust, dedicated to the preservation and transmission of these timeless treasures.
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