An unusual Chinese famille rose vase, tianqiuping decorated with the “Hundred Antiquities”. Yongzheng
The vase, of an unusual globular form with a tall cylindrical neck, is decorated in famille-rose enamels with a rich ‘Hundred Antiquities’ motif. At the center, a brocade-patterned vase rests upon a stylized stand and contains an assortment of scholarly objects—brushes, a ruyi scepter, a folded fan, and scrolls—symbols of the literary arts and cultured […]
A Chinese armorial tureen for the Irish / Belgian market (O’dwyer). Yongzheng
The tureen is decorated with blue underglaze lambrequins highlighted in gilt, bearing the full arms of the O’Dwyer family — D’or, semé de mouchetures d’hermine de sable, au lion au naturel, lampassé de gueules (et vraisemblablement armé de sable), rampant — surmounted by a helmet. The design is embellished with the collar of the Order […]
A Chinese famille rose plate decorated with the Immortals. Yongzheng
In the centre, within a large circular reserve, appears a depiction of the Eight Immortals (Ba Xian), the celebrated figures of the Daoist pantheon, gathered in a rocky landscape beneath a pine tree, a traditional symbol of longevity. Each Immortal can be identified by his or her distinctive attributes: Li Tieguai, leaning on his crutch […]
A pair of Chinese famille rose plates with a lady and two boys in a garden. Yongzheng
Each plate is finely decorated at the centre with a composition depicting an elegant lady seated on a rock, watching two young boys playing nearby. The scene is set in a wooded garden adorned with banana leaves and pierced rocks, before a wall with a circular window through which scholarly objects can be seen. The […]
A large eggshell famille rose tea bowl and saucer decorated with two huntsmen. China, Yongzheng
The eggshell tea bowl and saucer are unusually large, decorated in the famille rose palette and depict two noble huntsmen wearing rich hunting clothes on horseback returning from the hunt, with a dog happily running in front. They are both smoking long pipes, deep in conversation. One of them is holding a bow and arrows. […]
A large eggshell famille rose tea bowl and saucer decorated with cockerels
The eggshell saucer has a circular central panel decorated with a conventional motif in different shades of pink. Around it are four panels, two of them adorned with finely ena- meled roosters in natural colors, each bird is capped by a pink diapered border. The other panels are filled with an elaborate design of foliage […]
A royal mustard pot for the French market For Louis XV, King of France (1710-1774). China, Yongzheng
The mustard pot is decorated in the famille verte palette with translucent enamels and features the decor ordered for Louis XV, King of France (1710-1774). The main motif is an underglaze blue double lotus leaves holding a chrysanthemum flower, itself surmounted by a basket with citrus fruit. Additional motifs on the pot include a spray […]
A very large Chinese famille rose relief-decorated bowl. Yongzheng period
The bowl, finely decorated in famille rose enamels and relief carving, is decorated with a dense green geometric ground of interlaced trellis pattern, interrupted by four circular medallions. Each medallion contains a delicately painted floral composition, including peonies, chrysanthemums, and butterflies, symbolizing prosperity and longevity. The upper border is molded in shallow relief with a […]
A Chinese armorial tea caddy for the Dutch market (De Witt / van den Bergh). Yongzheng
The tea caddy is decorated in rich enamels with a finely rendered Chinese mountain-and-water landscape, showing pavilions, trees, and rocky peaks in delicate brushwork and vivid colors. At the center of the main side appears a circular armorial roundel, more boldly painted than the surrounding scene. Within, on a greyish-black (oxidized silver) ground, are three […]
A Chinese famille rose reticulated teapot. Yongzheng
This hexagonal teapot have has an eared handle, a short curving spout and an hexagonal domed lid. A honeycomb-and-flower motif is pierced into each facet of the bodies; the lid is also reticulated. It is painted with flowers and diaper patterns in overglaze pink, bright yellow, purple, green, and lavender-blue.