A LIME-GREEN GROUND 'FAMILLE-ROSE' 'SANDUO' VASE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF DAOGUANG

THIS IS A PREMIUM LOT.   CLIENTS WHO WISH TO BID ON PREMIUM LOTS ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE THE PREMIUM LOT PRE-REGISTRATION 3 WORKING DAYS PRIOR TO THE SALE.




the ovoid body rising from a slightly splayed foot to a cylindrical neck and a flared mouth, flanked by a pair of scrolling archaistic dragon handles, the sides with leafy branches of a pomegranate tree, the knotty branches bearing red multi-petalled flowers, tight and opening buds, and plump fruit, some burst open to reveal raspberry-red seeds, entwined with flowering and budding pink peonies, between ruyi head borders suspending peach sprigs, all reserved on a lime-green ground decorated with leafy lotus scrolls wreathed by peach sprigs, the front and back with a bat suspending pendant tasselled lanterns, the shoulder with a floral scroll band, and further ruyi heads at the mouth, with a keyfret band at the foot, the interior and base turquoise, with a central square on the base reserved in white for the iron-red six-character seal-mark   

Acquired in France.

The shape and design of the present vase are stylistically so closely related to porcelains of the Jiaqing reign, that it can be considered a product of the first years of the Daoguang period. The delicate painting of the much favoured motif - the 'Three Abundances (Sanduo)' -  is further reminiscent of earlier Qianlong designs. 

See a larger Qianlong vase of  this form and with related borders dividing the different sections, but painted with palace ladies in a garden setting, illustrated in R.L. Hobson, Chinese Pottery and Porcelain, vol. 2, London, 1915, pl. 132, from the collection of Lady Wantage. A Jiaqing vase of similar shape decorated with a Daoist scene was sold in our London rooms, 8th December 1992, lot 299; and another with flowers between lime-ground designs, was sold in these rooms, 29th October 2001, lot 611.  

For the inspiration of the sanduo design see a Qianlong vase decorated with branches of fruiting pomegranate, peach, Buddha's Hand citron and persimmon, between gilt and blue-ground borders on the neck and foot, sold in these rooms, 27th October 1992, lot 161. The pomegranate, with its many seeds, represents the wish for many sons. It was a design especially favoured by the Jiaqing emperor who specifically ordered wood carvings with the design of pomegranate for his summer palace in 1814. See Teresa Tse Bartholomew, Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art, San Francisco, 2006, p. 76. The sanduo, usually represented by pomegranate, peach and Buddha's Hand citron, convey abundant blessings, sons and longevity.