Imperial Porcelain - A Private Collection

Imperial Porcelain - A Private Collection

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 24. A BLACK-GROUND GREEN-ENAMELLED 'BUTTERFLY AND FLOWER' DISH, QIANLONG SEAL MARK AND PERIOD | 清乾隆 黑地綠彩蝶戀花紋盤 《大清乾隆年製》款.

A BLACK-GROUND GREEN-ENAMELLED 'BUTTERFLY AND FLOWER' DISH, QIANLONG SEAL MARK AND PERIOD | 清乾隆 黑地綠彩蝶戀花紋盤 《大清乾隆年製》款

Auction Closed

November 6, 11:47 AM GMT

Estimate

25,000 - 35,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

A BLACK-GROUND GREEN-ENAMELLED 'BUTTERFLY AND FLOWER' DISH

QIANLONG SEAL MARK AND PERIOD

清乾隆 黑地綠彩蝶戀花紋盤 《大清乾隆年製》款


the shallow rounded sides rising to a broad, gently flared rim, painted in vibrant green enamels with a central medallion enclosing peony flowers supported on leafy stems and small lingzhi issuing from a cluster of rocks, with two delicate butterflies fluttering overhead, the rim circled by a wide band of ruyi heads, the exterior painted with overlapping waves, all against a black ground, the base with a six-character seal mark in underglaze blue

Diameter 18.3 cm, 7 1/5 in.

Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Ceramics from the Collection of the Kau Chi Society of Chinese Art, Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1981, cat. no. 160. Zhongguo mingtao riben xunhui zhan.gangtai mingjia shoucang taoci jingpin [Exhibition of Famous Chinese Ceramics Touring Japan. Fine Ceramics from Private Hong Kong and Taiwanese Collections], Nihonbashi Takashimaya, Tokyo, 1992, p. 230-231.

《求知雅集珍藏.中國古陶瓷展》,香港中文大學文物館,香港,1981年,編號160

《中國名陶日本巡迴展.港台名家收藏陶瓷精品》,日本橋高島屋,東京,1992年,第230至231頁

The pair to this dish was sold at Christie’s New York, 15th September 2011, lot 1592. See also a pair of Qianlong mark and period dishes of this type, but with a lotus scroll on the well and on the exterior, included in the Min Chiu society exhibition An Anthology of Chinese Ceramics, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1980, cat. no. 133, and sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 29th November 1978, lot 363; and a dish of slightly larger size, decorated with birds among flowering trees, and with a diaper pattern on the well, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 28th April 1992, lot 242, and again at Christie’s New York, 29th November 1990, lot 292, from the collection of Mr and Mrs Jack Warner.


The garden scene on this dish is steeped in auspicious symbolism, and each element of its composition was carefully chosen for its auspicious properties. Peonies (fuguihua) were historically cultivated in imperial gardens and symbolise prosperity. They are considered the flowers of spring, and when depicted with butterflies (fudie), they grant the wish for an accumulation of blessings, wealth and high social status. Rocks (shoushi) and lingzhi on the other hand, represent longevity, and with peonies they form the wish for a long and honourable life.


與本盤成對之例,曾售於紐約佳士得2011年9月15日,編號1592。另比一對例,乾隆年器並款,飾纏枝蓮紋,曾展於敏求精社《中國陶瓷雅集》,敏求精舍,香港藝術館,香港,1980年,編號133,售於香港蘇富比1978年11月29日,編號363;另一例尺寸稍大,飾花鳥紋飾,盤心飾開光紋飾,售於香港蘇富比1992年4月28日,編號242,後易手於紐約佳士得1990年11月29日,編號292,此例出自Jack Warner伉儷收藏。


本盤捷報富貴紋飾寓意吉祥:牡丹有富貴花稱號,自古以來種植於宮廷園林,與春季相關;蝴蝶則寓多福顯貴,配以壽石靈芝,更添美好寓意。