Page 136 - Christie's London Fine Chinese Ceramics Nov. 2019

Luxurious Good Fortune

Rosemary Scott, Senior International Academic Consultant

When these sumptuous daji (highly auspicious) plaques the Chinese arts bats (fu) provide a rebus for happiness
were commissioned, it is clear that the patron for whom they (fu), while red, as well as being the most auspicious colour
were made stipulated that no expense should be spared in is pronounced (hong) the same as a word meaning vast
their production. The plaques are constructed of precious or ample (hong), thus red bats symbolize vast happiness.
materials of the highest quality. Each of these large plaques There are fve bats on the lower section of each plaque,
is in the form of a double gourd carved from a single piece which represent the Five Blessings, mentioned above,
of lapis lazuli – both pieces being of unusually deep, even, of longevity, health, wealth, love of virtue, and a peaceful
slightly translucent blue. The two most likely sources for this death. In addition, there are three further bats on the upper
lapis are north-eastern Afghanistan, and the area west of section of each plaque, bringing the total number on each
Lake Baikal in southern Siberia. In view of the depth of colour, plaque to eight – the most auspicious number.
it seems probable that the lapis came from the Lake Baikal
Around the waist of each plaque is a delicately depicted
region, interestingly, an area in which nephrite jade has also
blue ribbon, the ends of which futter down the sides to
been found.
the base. These blue ribbons owe their colour to precious,
The relief carving on the lapis plaques depicts more double unusually well-preserved, kingfsher feathers. The blue tied
gourds – also known as bottle gourds – on their vines ribbons (shoudai) also provide another rebus - this time
accompanied by well-defned leaves and tendrils. Double suggesting a wish for longevity (shou). The overall message
gourds were popular motifs, which represented abundance of the plaques is made clear by the two white
and fertility because of their many seeds, and also longevity jade characters which appear in the upper and lower
through their links with Daoism. One of the Eight Daoist circular panels on each plaque. These read daji (highly
Immortals, Li Tiegui (Iron-crutch Li) is often shown carrying auspicious). While double gourd shaped plaques bearing
a gourd containing magic potions, as well as the iron these two characters are known in a number of media,
crutch which gives him his name. Daoist fairies are also from porcelain to cloisonné enamel, it is extremely rare
often depicted with double gourds from which fy fve red to fnd them rendered in such extravagant materials.
bats – representing the Five Blessings. As a specifc rebus, This extravagance is particularly apparent in the panels
bottle gourds on a vine huluman and vines with tendrils themselves, which are made with kingfsher feathers used
mandai, suggest the phrase hulu wandai ‘May you have to highlight the 卍 wan (ten thousand) diaper ground, and
numerous descendants’. rubies decorating the frame.

The front surface of each plaque bears a complex vine, Each plaque appears to stand in a shallow dish or tray,
also with curling tendrils, which bears jade leaves and which contains ornamental rocks made of lapis lazuli and
rose quartz blossoms and small double gourds. A further fowers made of rose quartz and turquoise-tipped anthers.
double gourd vine in stained ivory encircles the base of This arrangement is reminiscent of the penzai ‘tray planting’,
each plaque. Combined with the larger gourds (gua) carved which has been a feature of Chinese gardens and interior
on the plaques themselves, these smaller coral and ivory decoration for centuries. The name penzai is pronounced
gourds (die) suggest the phrase guadie mianmian ‘May bonzai in Japanese, and in the West has come to be applied
you have endless generations of sons and grandsons’. to miniature plants grown in trays. The other Chinese name
Flying around the vine are red bats carved from coral. In for tray arrangements is penjing ‘tray landscape’, which

134 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.