The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler

Date

Large Cylindrical Vase with hollow neck dates from 1876/1878.

Large Cylindrical Vase with hollow neck, Private Collection

It is a preliminary study for an illustration in a catalogue of the collection of Henry Thompson (1820-1894), published in 1878. ¹

It is catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 637).

Images

Subject

Description

Large Cylindrical Vase with hollow neck, Private Collection

A vase, lit from the left, and casting a strong shadow behind and to right. The Thompson catalogue described the subject as follows:

'No. 206. Large Cylindrical Vase, with hollow neck. On a ground of transparent wavy blue numerous dragons and medallions of flowers, forming a regular pattern intersected by boldly drawn leaves and flowers; the hollow of the neck similarly ornamented in two divisions; round the foot a broad band of ornament, key-pattern, with four medallions of flowers; round the neck similar bands and medallions. Mark, two rings. Height, 18 inches.' ²

Technique

Composition

Large Cylindrical Vase with hollow neck, Private Collection

Large Cylindrical Vase with hollow neck, Whereabouts unknown

This is a preliminary study for Large Cylindrical Vase with hollow neck m0638.

History

Provenance

• 1876/1878: given to Murray Marks (1840-1918), London art dealer;
• 1879/1918: possibly sold at auction, Christie's, London, 7 February 1879 (lots 527-533) or 5 July 1918 (lot 27) 'Studies of Chinese Porcelain' and, in either case, bought by Pickford Robert Waller (1849-1930).
• Date unknown: said to have been owned by Whistler's son, Charles James Whistler Hanson (1870-1935), and possibly inherited by his son Adrian Charles Whistler Hanson (1902-1967).
• 1966: sold by the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Truro, at auction, Christie's, London, 22 February 1966 (lot 49) and bought by Julius H. Weitzner (1896-1986), London dealer;
• 1966: sold to Knoedler's, dealers in London and New York (#CA10195);
• 1987: bought by a private collector.

Exhibitions

This was not, as far as is known, exhibited in Whistler's lifetime.

Bibliography

Catalogues Raisonnés

• MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995 (cat. no. 637) as 'Large Cylindrical Vase with hollow neck'.

Authored by Whistler

• Thompson, Sir Henry, A Catalogue of Blue and White Nankin Porcelain Forming the Collection of Sir Henry Thompson. Illustrated ... from Drawings by James Whistler ... and Sir Henry Thompson, London, 1878, final design (cat. no. 206) repr. pl. XX.

Catalogues 1855-1905

SALE:

• Either Christie's, London, 7 February 1879 (lots 527-533) or 5 July 1918 (lot 27) 'Studies of Chinese Porcelain'.