#8608 • 17th-18th C. Vietnamese Bleu de Hue Queen's Bowl

Part of Empress Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau & More (timed auction by GWS Auctions)

Starting at $1.00

Status: Sold

Est. $1,000-$1,000,000 17th-18th C. Vietnamese Imperial Bleu de Hue Porcelain Dragon Bowl Commissioned for Inner Court (Has Neifu Mark) From Queen Mother Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau - The bowl has a vibrant, cobalt blue underglaze with a scrolling dragon and koi fish design, and is finished with a silver rim. The dragon is depicted near the top of the piece, with a background of stylized clouds, and the koi fish is depicted at the bottom of the piece, in a sea of scrolled waves. Most "Bleu de Hue" porcelain was ordered by the Vietnamese court by way of diplomatic missions to China, and most was produced in Jingdezhen with special designs and marks. Selected vessels were finished with rims of silver as early as the Han dynasty to set them apart from the ordinary and to make them suitable for high class clients, and to also protect them from damage. This very high quality porcelain was ordered from China for the court use. Each ruler ordered ceramics of his own liking for use in his court, as well as presentation pieces to give to members of royal families and mandarin officials. This is an absolutely stunning investment piece that truly belongs in a museum. The base of the bowl bears the two character "Neifu" mark, denoting that the piece was commissioned for the Inner Court. This piece comes from the estate of a Vietnamese Royal Family (the family now lives in the United States, and wishes to remain private), and once belonged to the Queen Mother Tu Cung Hoang Thai Hau (Empress Dowager Doan Huy) who kept the piece in her personal collection before it was passed down. Empress Dowager Doan Huy was the last queen of the Nguyen dynasty, and the mother of Emperor Bao Dai. Upon being named Empress Dowager, Tu Cung immersed herself in Chinese, French, and Vietnamese, learning the etiquette and protocol related to daily life in the Hue Royal court. After the fall of Nguyen Dynasty while her son Emperor Bao Dai went into exile, the Empress remained and devoted herself to preserving the former capital of Hue. She sponsored the restoration of Thai Temple and other war torn mausoleums of Nguyen royals. This is a true modern day treasure, and a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a piece of Vietnamese history. This piece has excellent investment potential, as it is thought by experts around the world and avid collectors that due to the rapid modernization of Vietnam, Vietnamese antiques will within the next ten years be more valuable than Chinese antiques. According to some of the most expert collectors in the world, what used to sell for hundreds are now selling for tens of thousands. Measurements: 7.25" diameter x 4.25"H