Page 23 - Bonhams Los Angelis December 14, 2022

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AN IRON-RED-GROUND DOUBLE-GOURD ‘DA JI’ WALL Double-gourd vases bearing the phrase ‘Da ji’ (‘great auspiciousness’)
PLAQUE were traditionally used or gifted as good luck charms. Compare a
Qianlong/Jiaqing period nearly identical plaque from the Sir Quo-Wei Lee Collection attributed
Molded as a flattened double-gourd vase tied with a turquoise- to the Qianlong period sold at Sotheby’s, Hong Kong, 2 October 2018,
enameled ribbon at the waist, the upper and lower bulbs of the vase lot 146; another, attributed to the Qianlong - Jiaqing period, sold in the
each centered with a circular reserve enclosing the characters ‘Da’ and same rooms, 11 July 2020, lot 3652; and a slightly less refined pair of
‘Ji’ (‘great auspiciousness’), respectively, painted in gilt within fine iron- this type attributed to the Jiaqing period sold at Sotheby’s, London,
red outlines, five dappled blue bats soaring around each cartouche, all 10 November 2010, lot 317. A related plaque, but with a white ground
against a vibrant iron-red ground densely patterned with gilt fretwork, patterned with iron-red fretwork and gilt bats, attributed to the 18th
the red body offset by the turquoise-enameled ribbon molded with century, sold at sold at Christie’s, Hong Kong, 30th October 2001, lot
stylized folds accentuated with black-enameled lines, a large gilt bat 743, and later at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 4th April 2012, lot 3189. See
fanning its wings across the the vase’s rim, the foot supported on an also a similar ‘Da Ji’ hanging vase in the Shanghai Museum, illustrated
integral faux bois stand, the unadorned reverse with a recession for in Selected Ceramics from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Hu,
suspension. Shanghai, 1989, pl. 70.

13 1/2in (34.3cm) high
$20,000 - 30,000
Provenance:
Sara Fredericks (1903-1986), likely acquired in the 1960s in New York,
thence by descent

FINE CHINESE ART | 21