Page 49 - Davies Collection of Chinese Porcelain

109. Very important bottle-shaped vase with bulbous body and straight neck

terminating in a band of silver. The decoration consists of large figures of the

immortals running upon waves; to the left above these is the figure of the goddess

Si-Wang-Mu with her attendants floating upon clouds. Behind these are large rocks

from which issues a branch of the immortal pine tree with foliage. At the back are

two figures of boys holding musical instruments; the pine tree is repeated, and there

are also representations of clouds and rocks. On the neck are figures of the gods of

longevity, happiness, and children. The whole most exquisitely drawn and beautifully

Aenamelled in rose-verte colours on a fine white ground. truly great example.

Kien-Lung period. Height 20J inches. {See Illustration^ Plate V.y facing page 20).

1 10. Square-shaped vase tapering towards the foot, which is underset and expands ;
the shoulder slopes upwards towards the neck, is inset and springs from a broad

band, expanding to the lip which has a deep rim. The decoration on the body of

—the vase consists of flowering trees emblematical of the four seasons hawthorn

for spring, peony for summer, lotus for autumn, and the chrysanthemum for winter.

On the foot and shoulder is an archaic design in pink and green relieved with

panels, those of the latter containing flowers, and the former sacred emblems. These
are all superbly drawn and richly enamelled in famille-rose colours on a white
ground. At the outer edge of the foot is a formal band of Grecian key design in

a brilliant green pencilled in black. The band from which the neck issues is

enamelled blue, the Grecian key being represented in black pencilling, above which

is a narrow band of yellow and green. The neck is treated similarly to the body of

the vase, but has fruit trees instead of flowers, namely, the finger fruit, pomegranate,

peach and persimmon. On the broad band at the lip is an engraved Grecian key

design in pink and green enamels. Kien-Lung period. Height 24 inches.

111. An important dish decorated in the centre with the representation of a large

beaker-shaped altar vase filled with flowers; by the side of this is another vessel, and

surrounding it are musical instruments, sacred manuscripts, makemona, table, etc. On

the rim is a broad band representing brocade, with a design of chrysanthemums and
formal foliage in white on rouge-de-fer, finished with a border of trellis design in
rouge-de-fer on white, relieved with four reserves containing sacred emblems. Dividing
these reserves in each instance is a formal chrysanthemum in pale green pencilled in

black. The whole richly enamelled in fine famille-verte colours on a white ground.
Kang-He period. Diameter 21 inches.

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