Page 198 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art Nov 2013 London
P. 198
Another Property 另一件藏品
182 * The lively and amusing scene on this large basin represents a joyful
procession to celebrate the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year. Such
A rare large famille rose ‘hundred boys’ basin busy and colourful processions became popular in the Qianlong
Jiaqing seal mark and of the period period, and continued to be produced throughout the Jiaqing and
The deep basin decorated in the well with a dignitary riding a blue qilin Daoguang reigns. For examples of such scenes from the Qianlong
and carrying a small boy in his arms, accompanied by two older boys reign, see The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace
with flags and another with a parasol, all encircled by a continuous Museum: Porcelains with Cloisonne Enamel Decoration and Famille
procession of boys in celebration variously bearing parasols, banners Rose Decoration, Hong Kong, 1999, nos.121, 128 and 132. A much
and standards suspending auspicious fruit and a ruyi sceptre, others larger and moulded vase dated to the Jiaqing period is illustrated,
waving models of a Buddhist lion, an elephant and various fish behind ibid., no.168.
further boys holding aloft a dragon and a pearl while crossing a bridge, Vessels with such processional scenes take full advantage of the
the flattened rim decorated with four gilt shou characters alternating cylindrical exterior of a vase or the interior of a basin (as on the
with four lotus blossoms issuing from foliate scrolls bearing peaches present lot) to depict a continuous scene full of life and action. The
against a green ground, the exterior with three different lotus blossoms depiction of numerous boys expresses hope for the future and
on leafy scrolls against a turquoise ground. the continuity of the generations. Vessels such as the present lot
37.5cm (14½in) diam. thus reflect on porcelain and enamels both the joyful and noisy
£70,000 - 100,000 atmosphere of the annual festival celebrating youth and vigour as well
HK$870,000 - 1,200,000 CNY690,000 - 980,000 as reinforcing a sense of continuity and the rotation of the seasons
清嘉慶 粉彩百子圖盆 礬紅「大清嘉慶年製」篆書款 and life.
For an example of a Jiaqing basin of similar form but with lotus
scrolls around the interior walls surrounding a scene of boys in the
well, see ibid., no.175.
196 | Bonhams
