清嘉慶 粉彩綠地福壽雙全紋瓶 《大清嘉慶年製》款

the globular body supported on a spreading foot and rising to a tall waisted neck, brightly enamelled on a lime-green ground with pairs of confronting butterflies, pendent bats, endless knots, and sprigs of sanduo interspersed amongst floral blooms issuing animated foliated stems, all between a ruyi-collar around the mouth and lappets above the pink key-fret border around the foot, the interior and base enamelled turquoise, the latter inscribed in iron-red with a six-character reign mark reserved in a square cartouche

The vase is in overall good condition with minor wear and scratches to the surface enamel. The gilt paint on the mouthrim is partially worn.
"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."

Vases of this type are more commonly known of slightly larger size, such as one from the Weishaupt collection, included in the exhibition From the Dragon’s Treasure, Museum für Kunsthandwerk, Berlin, 1987, cat. no. 23, and sold in our Amsterdam rooms, 16th October 1995, lot 28, in these rooms, 30th April 1996, lot 509, and most recently in our London rooms, 10th November 2010, lot 120; and a pair of similar vases was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th October 2013, lot 3256.

This charming vase is filled with auspicious symbolism that suggests it was produced as a marriage gift. The two facing butterflies represent a joyful union, while the bats are a pun for blessings, and the peaches symbolise longevity. Gunhild Avitabile, in the catalogue to the exhibition From the Dragon’s Treasure, ibid., p. 33, suggests that this design represents the wish ‘May good luck and longevity continue without interruption’.