A FINE AND RARE LIME-GREEN GROUND 'FAMILLE-ROSE' 'THREE RAMS' VASE QING DYNASTY, SHENDE TANG ZHI MARK, DAOGUANG PERIOD

the ovoid body resting on a short spreading foot, surmounted by a waisted neck flanked by a pair of iron-red enamelled and gilt archaistic phoenix handles, finely painted in brilliant famille-rose enamels on the gently rounded sides with three rams set in a landscape of blossoming berries, rose bushes and leafy trees between bands of ruyi heads enclosing floral sprays, the neck with stylised lotus blossoms borne on a meandering leafy scroll with bats and sanduo sprays reserved against a lime-green ground, between a band of ruyi heads and upright plantain leaves, the lipped rim and foot encircled with a band of flower heads against a ground of swirls, inscribed to the base with a four-character mark reading Shende tang zhi (Hall for the Cultivation of Virtue)

This large and impressive vase is in very good condition with the exception of a three-pointed hairline star crack (14cm max) to the base, rubbing to the gilded decoration at the rim, light rubbing to the top edge of the iron-red band at the rim and minor glaze scratches and tiny enamel flakes.
"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."

The present vase is impressive for its very large size and well preserved condition. It bears the four-character hall mark Shende Tang zhi (Made for the Hall of Prudent Virtue), the main residence of the Daoguang emperor (1821-1850) located in the grounds of the Yuanmingyuan. It is known that wares bearing this mark were made for the emperor's personal use. Stacey Pierson notes that the Shende Tang was completed in 1831, allowing a more precise dating of vessels belonging to this special group of wares; about twenty years, between 1831 and 1850, the year when the emperor died.  According to Pierson no less than 30 types of imperial Shende Tang porcelains are extant in public and private collections, mostly in the shape of bowls, dishes and vases. See Pierson, Rare Marks on Chinese Ceramics, London, 1998, p. 36. A Shende Tang bowl in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, painted with cranes is illustrated, ibid., pl. 8.

This vase is painted with the 'Three Rams (san yang)' design that represents a change of fortune with the arrival of Spring and the New Year. The three rams are often shown together with the rising sun (taiyang) to form the rebus for 'three ram (yang) bring prosperity'. The Book of Changes (Yijing) first mentions the phrase san yang referring to the three male lines, called tai – the symbol of heaven. Tai is positioned under three female lines called kun that represent earth. Hence the phrase 'sanyang kaitai' which means the New Year brings renewal and a change in fortune.

See a large vase of related form decorated with the san yang motif on a similar lime-ground, also inscribed with the Shende Tang mark on the base offered in our New York rooms, 30^th March 2006, lot 354. Another smaller Daoguang baluster form vase with elephant-head handles and a globular body painted with the san yang design was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 11^th April 2008, lot 3025.

Compare also three Shende Tang vases, one decorated with the popular boys design sold in our New York rooms, 31^st March 2005, lot 122; and a pair of green-ground vases with dragons, also sold in our New York rooms, 17^th September 2003, lot 119. Further examples, from the collection of the Nanjing Museum, are illustrated in The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, including  five flowerpots of different forms and decoration, pls 398-402, and a blue-and-white bowl with a peony design, pl. 403.