Lot 352. A rare iron-red and gilt-decorated 'Three Abundances' jar and cover, Qing dynasty, Daoguang period (1821-1850). Height 11 1/4  in., 28.5 cm. Estimate 40,000 - 60,000 USD. Lot sold 293,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's. 

of ovoid form, the sides painted with the 'Three Abundances' on a dish supported on the stigma of a large stylized lotus blossom, alternating with a bat suspending an endless knot, all surrounded by scrolling foliage and smaller lotus blossoms, between key-fret and ruyi bands around the shoulder and upright lappets encircling the foot, all below the straight neck painted with a band of alternating lotus blossoms and florets flanked by scrolling leaves, the cover decorated with lotus blossoms and surmounted by a bud finial, the recessed base centered with a four-character mark reading Shende Tang zhi (Made for the Hall of Prudent Virtue), the base, inside of the neck and underside of the cover all enameled in turquoise. 

Provenance: Acquired in Hong Kong prior to 1980, and thence by descent. 

Notes: The 'Three Abundances', sanduo, represent an abundance of blessings, longevity and sons. The bats suspending endless knots represent endless blessings because the name of the knot panchang, and the word for bat, fu, forms the rebus changfu, which literally means endless blessings.  Scattered throughout the decoration are also wansymbols, which represent eternity and chimes which represent celebration.

The Shende Tang hall mark on the base refers to the residence of the Daoguang Emperor in the Yuanming Yuan summer palace in the outskirts of the capital, where it was located on the western side of the Jiuzhou Qingyan (Palace of Peace in the Nine Regions).  The Shende Tang was completed in 1831, thus making Daoguang pieces with this mark attributable to the two decades between 1831 and 1850.