Page 165 - September 23 to 24 Important Chinese Art Christie's NYC

PROPERTY FROM A NEW ENGLAND COLLECTION
~862
A RARE AND UNUSUAL DOUCAI MOON FLASK The shape of this vase is based on Ming dynasty prototypes of early fifteenth
18TH CENTURY century date. A Ming example of the same height, but with a narrower neck
and different handles, is illustrated by R. Scott in Percival David Foundation
The flattened form flask is surmounted by a tall neck and flanked by a pair of
of Chinese Art: A Guide to the Collection, London, 1989, p. 73, no. 61, where
thin, wide handles decorated with three dots. The body is decorated on either
the author notes that this shape has its origins in Syrian glass. However, the
side with branches of peaches, finger citrons and lychees, all between stylized
decoration on the present vase is purely Chinese. The three fruiting branches
lappet borders.
seen here represent the sanduo (Three Abundances), comprised of the citron
12¼ in. (31.2 cm.) high, hardwood stand (abundance of blessings), the peach (abundance of longevity) and the lychee
(abundance of sons). The citron, pronounced foshou in Chinese, is similar in
$50,000-70,000 its first character (fo) to fu, which means 'blessings'. Peaches are symbols of
longevity, and the second character for lychee, zhi, resembles the word for
PROVENANCE:
'sons'.
Probably acquired in Berlin or Amsterdam in the late 19th century, and thence
by descent to the present owner, prior to 1959.
新英格蘭珍藏
清十八世紀 鬥彩三多圖抱月瓶
來源:
或於十九世紀晚期自柏林或阿姆斯特丹入藏, 後於1959年以前傳承至現藏家。

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