Page 37 - 2021 March 18 to 19th, Important Chinese Works of Art, Christie's New York City
P. 37
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE NEW YORK COLLECTION
732
A RARE PAIR OF FAMILLE ROSE 'MANDARIN
DUCKS' BOWLS
SHENDETANG ZHI MARK IN IRON RED, DAOGUANG
PERIOD (1821-1850)
The deep, rounded sides of each bowl are delicately decorated
in famille rose enamels with a pair of mandarin ducks
swimming in a pond amidst large lotus flowers and leaves.
5æ in. (14.6 cm.) diam. (2)
$30,000-50,000
Shendetang Zhi is a hall mark associated with a range of fine
porcelains made for the Hall for the Cultivation of Virtue, a
summer residence of the Emperor Daoguang.
In Designs as Signs: Decoration and Chinese Ceramics,
Percival David Foundation, London, 2001, Stacey Pierson
explains that pairs of mandarin ducks, yuan yang, represent
marital fidelity or harmony as they are said to mate for life.
In association with lotus, homophonous with the word for
harmony (he), they can represent a wish for sons. A similar
pair of ‘ducks’ bowls sold at Christie’s New York, 17-18 March
2016, lot 1640.
清道光 粉彩蓮塘鴛鴦圖盌一對 礬紅「慎德堂製」楷書款
(base)
(marks)
