A pair of rare green-ground famille-rose 'anbaxian' bottle vases, Seal marks and period of Qianlong | 清乾隆 淺綠地粉彩暗八仙花卉紋長頸瓶一對 《大清乾隆年製》款

This exquisite pair of vases, vibrantly painted motif of anbaxian (Eight secret emblems) among other auspicious symbols and elaborate floral blooms in famille-rose enamels, the richness of which is accentuated by the lime-green ground, represents the zenith of such technique during the Qianlong period (1736-95).

Anbaxian, relatively rarely seen on Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) porcelains, can be compared to their Buddhist counterparts (bajixiang). They represent the attributes of the Eight Daoist Immortals: the fan of Chongli Quan, the gourd and iron crutch of Li Tieguai, the fish drum of Zhang Guolao, the lotus of He Xiangu, the basket of flowers of Lan Caihe, the sword and fly-whisk of Lü Dongbin, the pair of clappers of Cao Guojiu, and the flute of Han Xiangzi. A few Qianlong vessels with anbaxian amid flower and leafy scrolls have been recorded; see, for example, a large doucai and famille rose vase sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30th May 2008, lot 8888. Adorned with emblems that have long been associated with longevity, references to celebration through the lotus blooms and abundance through the pomegranates, this pair of vases would have been a birthday gift tailor-made for sending auspicious wishes.

Compare a Qianlong period lime-green ground vase painted with auspicious emblems amidst scrolling flowers, also inscribed with an iron-red seal mark, but further adorned with cartouches of flower scenes and poems, in the Palace Museum, Beijing and illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelains with Cloisonne Enamel Decoration and Famille Rose Decoration, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 123; and a lime-green ground meiping, densely decorated with the Three Abundance and lotus scrolls, sold at Christie's London, 16th December 1996, lot 14, again at Christie's Hong Kong, 28th November 2006, lot 1563, and a third time, 15th May 2018, lot 19. See also a massive Qianlong yellow-ground vase with dragon handles, similarly decorated with anbaxian and formalised flowers, sold in these rooms, 7th April 2015, lot 3608.