A CELADON-GROUND FAMILLE-ROSE 'POMEGRANATE' VASE QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

of almost spherical form sweeping up to a short waisted neck and five pointed sepals forming a calyx mouth, finely moulded in relief and painted in bright enamels on a pale celadon-ground with a fruiting and flowering branch of pomegranate bearing five ripening fruits and attendant flowers and buds, their skin bursting open revealing numerous seeds, the fruits in pale yellow, rose pink and white, the flowers in iron red and the furled leaves in two tones of green, all naturalistically rendered growing from the base and wrapping the body, the concave base glazed in celadon and inscribed in underglaze blue with an apocryphal six-character Yongzheng seal mark

There are two tiny dirty pinholes on one sepal and a minute chip to another, otherwise the vase is in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Pomegranate in China symbolizes abundance and a wish for many sons and grandsons. An opened pomegranate with its seeds exposed evokes a Chinese saying 'shi liu kai xiao kou'  which means 'the pomegranate opens and produces hundred sons'. For a Jiaqing reign-marked famille-rose vase with similarly luxuriant depiction of pomegranates, see the example sold in our London rooms, 12th July 2006, lot 136.