Page 101 - Bonhams May 11th 2017 London Fine Chinese Art
P. 101
Boys were a highly auspicious subject in
China, representing wishes relating to fertility.
Because of the homophonic nature of the
Chinese language, images of boys holding
lotus flowers formed the rebus ‘continuation
of generation’, while boys holding blossoming
peonies, such as in the present examples,
emphasised the wish for family success and
for sons to achieve a high social rank by
passing the Imperial examinations.
Compare with a related wucai jar, also
decorated with designs of boys at play,
Kangxi, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong,
30 May 2012, lot 4097.
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