Marriage bowls were popular during the Qing period and were often carved with a variety of auspicious motifs which offered blessings and good wishes upon a marital union. The blossoming prunus branch found on the interior of this piece represents renewal and strength of will as it flowers in the cold winter. Although not an emblem of longevity, the prunus tree is often associated with long life due to the fact that the flowers appear on the leafless and apparently lifeless branches of the tree until it reaches an extremely advanced age. Furthermore, the Daoist philosopher Laozi is said to have been born under this tree.

A wide variety of marriage bowls was produced with a large number of traditional auspicious motifs employed in the decoration. Examples with surfaces left similarly plain or only minimally carved, and flanked by winged dragon handles, include one of slightly smaller size, decorated with a spray of lingzhi, wannianqing flower and a cluster of berries, sold in these rooms, 8th April 2010, lot 1869; and another, the steep interior and exterior carved with swallows in flight among gnarled flowering camellia branches, published in Robert Kleiner, Chinese Jades from the Collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, Hong Kong, 1996, pl. 89, and sold at Christie’s London, 17th December 1981, lot 391, and again at Christie’s Hong Kong, 27th November 2007, lot 1522. Compare also a Qianlong mark and period marriage bowl, the interior carved with two swallows and a large spray of prunus, the exterior with scrolling Indian lotus and chilong-form handles, sold in our New York rooms, 19th March 2007, lot 614, the feet of this latter bowl are also positioned diagonally, similarly to the present piece, rather than at the front, back and sides, as is more commonly the case.