Page 163 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Nov 2014 Hong Kong

The depiction of a multitude of boys at play, the
festive theme of ‘a hundred boys’, presents the
auspicious wish for many sons. This motif is
frequently seen in Chinese art, and was particularly
popular on famille rose wares during the Qianlong
reign and naturally continued in subsequent reigns.
Many vases were depicted with variations of boys at
play within courtyards, gardens, dragon boats, and
other settings. Examples of various shaped Qianlong
period vases with the ‘Hundred Boys’ decorative
theme are illustrated in The Complete Collection of
Treasures of the Palace Museum: Porcelains with
Cloisonne Enamel Decoration and Famille Rose
Decoration, Hong Kong, 1999, pls.121, 128 and
132. These Qianlong vases were likely the inspiration
for ensuing vases from the late Qing period with the
same theme.

The present vase is a fine example of the continued
skill and abilities of ceramic decorators in the late
18th and early 19th century. This is demonstrated
in the intricate representation of the many figures,
each boy in his various pursuit, carefully detailed
with different clothing and affects. The present lot
is also unusual in depicting a gate that includes the
phrases Zhuangyuan, Tianxia taiping, and Jidi. The
phrase Zhuangyuan refers to the title given to the
highest scores in the imperial jinshi examination,
Tianxia taiping means universal peace, and jidi
means to pass an imperial examination. Given that
a successful pass at the civil service examination
was required for a prosperous career in government,
the phrases and their meanings make the vase
especially auspicious.

Compare a smaller vase of similar but slightly more
slender shape, the neck with a coloured ground
and lotus scrolls, Daoguang seal mark and period,
decorated with a hundred boys celebrating the
Dragon Boat Festival, illustrated ibid., pls.168 and
194.

See two related vases of similar theme with
‘hundred boys’ decoration, but Daoguang seal
marks and period, sold in our London rooms, 12
May 2011, lot 362 and its pair in these rooms, 27
May 2012, lot 275.

嬰戲圖題材在乾隆、嘉慶、道光三朝官窯瓷器中均
可見，內容包括舞龍提燈、賽龍舟、正月鬧新年
等，其中嘉慶一朝傳世品則較為少見。乾隆朝之
例，參見北京故宮博物院藏三件，見《故宮博物院
藏珍品大系：琺瑯彩，粉彩》，香港，1999年，圖
121，128及132。另見道光時期之例，見同著錄，
圖168及194。另見倫敦邦瀚斯曾售出一件清道光粉
彩嬰戲圖瓶，2011年5月12日，編號362及香港邦瀚
斯售一例，2012年5月27日，編號275。

(two views)