The "Wu Shuang Pu" (literally "Table of Incomparable Heroes") is a collection of engravings published in the 33rd year of Emperor Kangxi's reign (1694). It was created by the painter Jin Shi (金史), also known as Jin Guliang (金古良), in collaboration with the engraver Zhu Gui (朱圭). In this work, the artist portrayed forty notable figures from Chinese history, including ministers, generals, scholars, poets, and empresses, spanning from the Han Dynasty to the Song Dynasty. Each illustration is accompanied by a short biographical poem in the yuefu style. The book was printed on a large scale and widely disseminated, enjoying great success throughout the 18th century. As a result, porcelain workshops began incorporating these illustrations into their decorative motifs, making them a recurring theme in porcelain production during the latter half of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Ban Zhao (45-116)
Historian and Chinese scholar

The pair of vases we are offering for sale on March 28, 2024, is a beautiful example of the "Wu Shuang Pu" decor, as all forty heroes and heroines from the collection are represented with remarkable execution and quality.


CHINA
Qing Dynasty, 19th century
Very important pair of baluster vases in porcelain with famille rose enamels, featuring the "Wu Shang Pu" decor
Height: 86 cm

ASIAN ART
Auction
Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 2:30 PM
Aguttes Neuilly

Head of Asian Arts
Clémentine Guyot
+33 1 84 20 09 18 • guyot@aguttes.com