A famille-verte 'butterflies' rouleau vase, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period | 清康熙 五彩百蝶紋捧槌瓶

A profusion of butterflies, die, conveys a wish for great joy, and the present vase amply illustrates the auspicious sentiment with a dazzling array of butterflies. According to Therese Tse Bartholomew 'many butterflies can have yet another meaning: May the hundred blessings settle here', Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art, San Francisco, 2006, p. 32, no. 1.3.1. In addition, the word for butterfly is a homophone for a word that refers to someone who is seventy or eighty years of age. This play of words also makes the butterfly a symbol for a long life. A similar example from the Qing court collection, is illustrated in Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, vol. 38, Hong Kong, 1999, no. 122.