A famille-rose 'cockerels' panel, Qing dynasty, Qianlong / Jiaqing period

The present panel weaves together multiple auspicious connotations associated with the cockerel. Rising with the sun, the bird is an ancient yang symbol. Its name is a pun on 'duke' (gong) and 'auspicious' (ji), and its comb is also a homonym on 'official' (guan). Together with the peony, it suggests the rebus gongming fugui ('May you receive official rank and honor'), and combined with the cockscomb, it forms the rebus guanshang jiaguan ('May you continuously rise in rank'). The image of a cockerel perched on a rock is also a blessing for the home (shishang daji). 

For a panel decorated with quail and chrysanthemum, see one sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 4th October 2018, lot 61. See also a panel with floral blooms and rockwork, sold in our London rooms, 15th May 2013, lot 330. For a Qianlong mark and period table screen with birds and rockwork, see one sold at Christie's New York, 1st December 1994, lot 442. Compare also a Qianlong period famille-rose enamel 'rooster' plaque sold in our London rooms, 9th November 2005, lot 602.

For porcelain screens with painted trompe l'oeil borders, see a Qianlong mark and period table screen with a faux puddingstone border sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th October 2006, lot 1134, and another 18th century example with a faux turquoise border sold in our London rooms, 11th June 1991, lot 215.