Page 126 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art November 2018

233 Y
A FINE AND RARE HARDSTONE-MOUNTED GILT-BRONZE
‘AUSPICIOUS PEACHES AND BATS’ BOX AND COVER
Qianlong
The oval container lavishly gilt, the cover set with five bats in flight
amidst wispy clouds ready to feed on a pair of succulent peaches
issuing from leafy stems, the finely-worked inlaid subjects created from
lapis lazuli, jadeite, rock crystal and other materials, the sides relief-
decorated with dense foliate scrolls issuing from flower sprays dividing
four barbed cartouches, the cover interior set with a mirror, fitted box.
8.5cm (3 3/8in) wide (2).
£30,000 - 50,000
CNY270,000 - 450,000
清乾隆 銅鎏金嵌寶五蝠捧壽鼻煙盒

A box (he 盒) which is homophonous with ‘harmony’ (he 和) and five
bats (wufu 五蝠) which is a pun for ‘five blessings’ (wufu 五福) form a
rebus for ‘harmony and five blessings (longevity, wealth, health, love
and peaceful death)’. Such auspicious and elaborately decorated
boxes were popular gifts exchanged at the Imperial Court in Beijing. A
similar hardstone-mounted ‘peaches and bats’ gold box and cover, is
illustrated in Treasures of Imperial Court: The Complete Collection of
Treasures of the Palace Museum, Shanghai, 1995, pl.194.

Compare with a very similar ‘five bats and peaches’ gilt-bronze snuff
box and cover, Qianlong, which was sold at Bonhams Hong Kong,
24 November 2013, lot 18.

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