Bidspirit auction | Rare Chinese Export Porcelain Laughing

Rare Chinese Export Porcelain Laughing Boys - Very rare and fine Chinese export biscuit glazed 'laughing boys' group, Kangxi ca. 1662-1722. One boy seated and holding a flower, the other standing with a flower or fruit in his hand. With jackets painted with famille verte flowers and naked from the waist down. Provenance: Christie's, London, ” Fine Chinese Export Ceramics and Works of Art, ” 7 November 1994, Lot 90; The Distinguished Collection of Leo & Doris Hodroff. Reference: An extremely similar example sold at Christie's, ”Important Americana, ” 19 January 2024, Lot 531. Lot Essay: These laughing twins are the immortals Hehe Erxian who represent harmony, mirth, and bestow blessings on marriages. The word 'he' is a homonym for 'union' and 'erxian' means 'the two holy ones.' They actually represent two famous poet-monks of the Tang dynasty, Hanshan and Shide. Height: 8 1/2 in x width: 6 3/4 in x depth: 4 1/4 in. Condition: There are restorations to each of the boys hands, genitals, and the caps atop their heads. To the seated boy, there are additional restorations to both of the feet; possible signs of restoration along the underside of the boy's right leg where the leg meets the base, and to the boy's neck, particularly to the right side of the neck. To the standing boy, there is a linear area along the back right side of the figure's head that fluoresces under UV light, possibly signs of restoration. Fleabite chips primarily along high points, particularly the ears, and around the bangles around the figure's ankles. Wear to the glaze, including small scattered losses. There are rounded and linear firing flaws. Fleabite to small-sized chips along the base; there are two losses along the back extreme edge of the base.