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ANOTHER PROPERTY
193
A LARGE BLUE AND WHITE ‘DAY LILY’ BOWL
JIAJING SIX-CHARACTER MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE WITHIN A DOUBLE CIRCLE AND OF
THE PERIOD (1522-1566)
明嘉靖 青花纏枝百合紋大碗 雙圈六字楷書款
The bowl is boldly decorated to the exterior with a continuous scrolling leafy stem bearing large lily buds
and fowers. The interior is decorated with a roundel enclosing a gnarled leafy tree with fruits and fowers.
16º in. (41.3 cm.) diam.
£8,000-12,000 $13,000-18,000
€11,000-16,000
(mark)
The auspicious meaning of a day lily, xuancao, comes from the frst character, xuan, which is a traditional
honorifc way to refer to one’s mother. This fower is also a symbol of longevity, and hence this fower
could be used to signify honouring one’s mother and to wish her longevity. Day lilies are also called
wangyoucao (grief-dispelling plant) or yi’nancao (boy-favouring herb). It was believed that they could raise
one’s mood, while a pregnant woman who wore this fower could be expected to bear a male child.
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