A FINE CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE 'LIU BEI JUMPING THE TAN STREAM' OVOID JAR.

Transitional period, Chongzhen period (1628-1644).

The sides painted with a continuous scene depicting Liu Bei on horseback leaping across the Tan Stream as Cai Mao while his retinue of soldiers look on, the shoulder incised with an anhua band beneath a neck with banana leaves, 24cm H.

明崇禎 青花繪刘备跃马檀溪圖紋罐

The scene is from Three Kingdoms saga and depicts the moment that Liu Bei jumps the Tan Stream on his horse Dilu. The incident follows an invitation of Liu Bei to visit Xiaoyang by the governor of Jing Province, Liu Biao. However, the latter’s brother-in-law Cai Mao plots to assassinate Liu Bei, who on hearing this escapes. Pursued by Cai Mao and an army of soldiers, Liu reaches a stream only for his horse to stumble causing Liu Bei to get wet. He whips and chastise the horse which then, summoning all its strength clears the huge gap between the two shaws of the stream.

The scene was popularly displayed on Transitional era porcelain. For example see a depiction of the same scene see Sotheby's New York, 2009.09.16, Lot 192, and accession number 49.1510 from the Walkers Art Gallery, Baltimore. However, the present jar is exceptionally fine in its painting, colouring and preservation.

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