Olivia Xu
Associate Specialist
THE PROPERTY OF A BRITISH FAMILY 英國家族藏品
Lot 132
A MING-STYLE BLUE AND WHITE 'LOTUS SCROLL' BOTTLE VASE Daoguang seal mark and of the period
16 May 2024, 10:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £19,200 inc. premium
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Chen Xie
Specialist
Edward Luper
Specialist, Chinese Works of Art
A MING-STYLE BLUE AND WHITE 'LOTUS SCROLL' BOTTLE VASE
Daoguang seal mark and of the period
The compressed globular body rising from a short spreading foot decorated with foliate scrolls to a tall neck with a flared rim, the body painted with foliate floral scrolls between a band of lappets above the foot and bands of ruyi-heands, floral scrolls, and key-fret around the shoulder, all below bands of upright plantain leaves and key-fret around the neck and the rim with bands of wave and ruyi head, the base inscribed with a six-character seal mark in underglaze blue. 36.8cm (14 1/2in) high.
The compressed globular body rising from a short spreading foot decorated with foliate scrolls to a tall neck with a flared rim, the body painted with foliate floral scrolls between a band of lappets above the foot and bands of ruyi-heands, floral scrolls, and key-fret around the shoulder, all below bands of upright plantain leaves and key-fret around the neck and the rim with bands of wave and ruyi head, the base inscribed with a six-character seal mark in underglaze blue. 36.8cm (14 1/2in) high.
Footnotes
清道光 青花如意纏枝花卉紋賞瓶
青花「大清道光年製」篆書款
Provenance: a British private collection, acquired in 1989
來源：英國私人收藏，獲得於1989年
The present lot distinguished for its graceful adornment, elegant shape and balanced proportion is known as a 'bestowed vase' (賞瓶). Initially endorsed and commissioned by Emperor Yongzheng to reward meritorious officials, this type of vase retained its original design, name and purpose throughout the Qing Dynasty, from the Yongzheng era through the Xuantong period. The decorative motifs adorning the 'bestowed vase' carry profound symbolism, notably the 'blue lotus' (青蓮) phonetically linked to the concept of 'incorruptibility' (清廉). This choice of symbolism reflects the emperors' aspiration for an incorruptible government.
See a similar blue and white lotus-scroll bottle vase, Daoguang mark and period, in the Qing Court Collection, preserved in the Palace Museum Beijing (accession number 故00161552). Compare also with a similar blue and white lotus-scroll bottle vase, Daoguang mark and of the period, which was sold at Christie's New York, 20 September 2013, lot 1388.
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