Page 116 - Chinese Art Bonhams San Francisco December 18, 2017

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991
AN ENAMELED ‘IMMORTAL’ VASE
Qianlong mark, Republic period
Elegantly potted with an ovoid body rising to a tall gently waisted neck,
finely painted with a rendition of immortal Tieguai Li, his right foot
resting on a crutch with a magic gourd issuing blessings in the form of
five bats slung over his shoulder, the base bearing the four-character
mark in underglaze blue.
7 1/8in (18.2cm) high

$3,000 - 5,000

992
A SMALL FAMILLE ROSE ENAMELED VASE
Shen de tang zhi mark
Of carefully potted ovoid form and delicately painted with opposing groups
of lingzhi fungus and garden rocks combined with narcissus in bloom and
nandina berry branches set between decorative bands painted in shades
of rose and blue enamel, the recessed base bearing the four-character
mark in iron red standard script against a turquoise ground.
3in (7.5cm) high.
$3,000 - 4,000

Various combinations of nandina (tianzhu), narcissus (shuixian), fungus
(lingzhi) and rocks (shoushi) form a rebus for the birthday greetings
zhixian zhushou and tianxian shouzhi: see Terese Tse Bartholomew,
Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 2006, p. 199, no. 7.42.2
and p. 202, nos. 7.42.4 and 7.42.5.

993

114 | BONHAMS