Page 90 - The Parry Collection Bonhams London November 2 2021

34
A PAIR OF CINNABAR LACQUER CARVED PEACH-SHAPED
‘DAOIST IMMORTALS’ BOXES AND COVERS
Qianlong
The covers variously depicting Shoulao and Han Xiangzi, each with two
boy attendants, in landscapes of pine, paulownia trees and rockwork,
within auspicious motif borders of bats and peaches, all reserved
against geometric floral-pattern grounds, the bases decorated with
further diaper-patterns. Each 12cm (4 3/4in) long. (4).

£8,000 - 12,000
CNY72,000 - 110,000

清乾隆 剔紅道教人物故事圖桃形蓋盒一對

Provenance:
Captain W.F. Collins (1865-1948), Beijing, who sent the lacquer boxes
to Bluett’s on 27 February 1926
Bluett & Sons Ltd., London
E. A. Parry (1879-1946), London, acquired from the above on
Lot 34 (invoice) 26 May 1926, and thence by descent

來源：
高林士於1926年2月27日由北京送至倫敦古董商Bluett’s
倫敦古董商Bluett & Sons Ltd.
倫敦E. A. Parry（1879-1946）舊藏，於1926年5月26日購自上者，
並由後人保存迄今

Captain William Fellows Collins was agent in Peking for the Anglo-
French China Corporation Ltd and for S. Pearson & Son, and
supplied Bluett’s. John Sparks, Franck & Co and other dealers with
consignments of Chinese ceramics and works of art from Beijing. He
later reached the rank of Colonel and was awarded the DSO. For more
information about Collins, see R.Davids and D.Jellinek, Provenance,
Oxon, 2011, p.124.

Compare with a similar pair of peach-shaped boxes and covers with
Daoist Immortals, Qianlong, which was presented by the Qianlong
Emperor to Lord Macartney’s Embassy of 1792-1794, illustrated
by J.Ayers, Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of
Her Majesty the Queen, London, 2016, p.865, nos.1988-1989. The
peach is among the most important auspicious symbols in Chinese
culture, and vessels made in its form were very much favoured by the
Emperors. Peaches became associated with Daoism and symbolised
Captain William Fellows Collins Immortality. According to legend, the Queen Mother of the West grew
peaches in an orchard that would bestow Immortality on those who
would eat them. Furthermore, the Daoist deity Shoulao, the God of
Longevity, is often depicted holding a peach.

See a single related cinnabar lacquer peach box and cover with an
Immortal on the cover, 18th century, which was sold at Sotheby’s
London, 18 May 2018, lot 458.

高林士（William F. Collins上尉），時任聯華銀公司（Anglo-French
China Corporation Ltd）及英國培生集團（S. Pearson & Son）
駐北京代理，並為英國Bluett’s、John Sparks、Franck & Co 等古董
商由北京提供中國古董及藝術品。其後擢升至上校，並被授予傑出
服務勳章。有關高林士的具體信息，參見R.Davids與D.Jellinek著，
《Provenance》，牛津，2011年，頁124。

桃是中國傳統文化中最為重要的吉祥紋飾之一，在道教語境下寓意長
生不老。蓋面隨形開光雕飾五蝠，意指「洪福齊天」，五蝠音同五
福，即代表「高壽、康寧、富貴、好德、善終」，搭配壽桃形制，
象徵福祿壽三喜兼備。清乾隆年間，雕漆工藝達到頂峰。同類桃式蓋
Images courtesy of the Royal Collection Trust 盒可見馬戛爾尼使團於1792至1794年訪華期間，清乾隆皇帝贈與使
團之清乾隆剔紅道教人物故事圖桃形蓋盒一對，收錄於J.Ayers著，
《Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty
the Queen》，倫敦，2016年，頁865，編號1988-1989。參考一件十
八世紀剔紅福壽雙全紋桃式蓋盒，2018年5月18日售於倫敦蘇富比，
拍品編號458。

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
88 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.