A RARE RUBY-GROUND 'FAMILLE-ROSE' 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.




supported on a short foot rising to a slender ovoid body set with a waisted neck and flared mouth flanked by a pair of archaistic dragon handles, the body painted with four large formal lotus blooms, each with a bat hovering above a single gilt character, the four together reading Ji Xiang Ru Yi, all amid further lotus blooms borne on dense meandering leafy and budding stems, set between interlinking ruyi heads at the shoulder and upright lappets at the base, the neck similarly decorated with a lotus scroll, wreathed by peach sprigs and suspending a tasselled emblem to each side, between a wan scroll band at the shoulder and a pendant trefoil band at the mouth, the foot with a keyfret, the decoration all reserved on a warm ruby-ground, the interior and base turquoise, with a central square on the base reserved in white for the six-character seal-mark in iron-red  

Acquired in France.

A smaller pink-ground Daoguang vase of related ovoid form, but without the handles, from the Alfred Morrison collection, was sold at Christie's London, 9th November 2004, lot 50. The present vase is inspired by Qianlong vases of similar shape and famille-rose decoration on a colour-ground; see a pink-ground famille-rose vase from the Fonthill Heirlooms and the collections of Lord Margadale of Islay and Alfred Morrison, sold at Christie's London, 18th October 1971, lot 70, and again in these rooms, 2nd May 1985, lot 35.