Page 142 - Bonham's Asian Art London November 12, 2015

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A LARGE FAMILLE ROSE ‘NINE PEACHES’ BOTTLE VASE, A LARGE FAMILLE ROSE ‘MAGPIES AND PRUNUS’ BOTTLE
TIANQIUPING VASE, TIANQIUPING
Qianlong six-character mark, late Qing Dynasty Iron-red Qianlong seal mark, Republic
Heavily potted, the globular body and tall cylindrical neck enamelled The compressed globular body tapering to a cylindrical neck,
with nine peaches borne on leafy gnarled branches, interspered with decorated to the exterior with magpies variously swooping and
camellia blossoms and flower buds, the reverse with a pair of bats in perched on contorted branches borne with prunus blossoms,
flight. extended from two gnarled trees grown beside lingzhi fungi.
55.3cm (21 3/4in) high 53cm (20 7/8in) high

£10,000 - 12,000 CNY97,000 - 120,000 £8,000 - 12,000 CNY77,000 - 120,000
HK$120,000 - 140,000 HK$94,000 - 140,000

清末 粉彩九桃天球大瓶 民國 粉彩喜鵲登梅圖天球大瓶
礬紅「大清乾隆年製」楷書款 礬紅「大清乾隆年製」篆書款

Provenance: a Swiss private collection Provenance: a Swiss private collection

來源：瑞士私人收藏 來源：瑞士私人收藏

Magpies represent joy, being a homophone with the Chinese
character for happiness, xi, and therefore are often suitable for
depiction on marriage presents. Often, magpies are depicted in pairs,
thus underscoring auspicious symbolism in form of married bliss. A
flock of twelve magpies, as decorated on the present vase, represent
the desire that twelve wishes should come to the viewer’s way. When
combined with a prunus, it forms a rebus which may be translated as
‘happiness up to your eyebrows’, further reinforcing the auspicious
wishes for marital bliss.

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