Page 41 - Sotheby's Imperial Chiense Porcelain Nov 4 2020 London

37

A BLACK-GROUND GREEN-ENAMELLED 清乾隆 墨地綠彩蝶戀花紋盤
‘BUTTERFLY AND FLOWER’ DISH
QIANLONG SEAL MARK AND PERIOD 《大清乾隆年製》款
the shallow rounded sides rising to a broad, gently flared rim, 展覽
painted in vibrant green enamels with a central medallion 《求知雅集珍藏•中國古陶瓷展》，香港中文大學
enclosing peony flowers supported on leafy stems and small
lingzhi issuing from a cluster of rocks, with two delicate 文物館，香港，1981年，編號160
butterflies fluttering overhead, the rim encircled by a wide 《中國名陶日本巡迴展•港台名家收藏陶瓷精品》，
band of ruyi heads, the exterior painted with overlapping 日本橋高島屋，東京，1992年，第230至231頁
waves, all against a black ground, the base with a six-
character seal mark in underglaze blue
Diameter 18.3 cm, 7⅕ in.
EXHIBITED
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.
‡ £ 20,000-30,000

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.

mark

78 Buyers are liable to pay both the hammer price (as estimated above) and the buyer’s premium together with any applicable taxes and Artist’s Resale Right (which will depend on the individual circumstances). 79
Refer to the Buying at Auction and VAT sections at the back of this catalogue for further information.