Lot 9. A turquoise-ground famille-rose 'Boys' jar, Daoguang seal mark and period (1821-1850). 19.5 cm, 7 11/16  in. Estimate 80,000 — 120,000 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's.

the ovoid body surmounted by a short slightly waisted neck, superbly painted around the exterior with five lavishly dressed boys situated in a blooming garden of pine trees and craggy rocks, the taller boy with his arm raised holding a red and gold helmet surrounded by four others eagerly reaching for it, their faces finely outlined and shaded, the reverse painted with a pomegranate tree laden with floral buds and three ripe fruits, all between two turquoise-ground bands of meandering lotus scrolls, bats and ruyi heads, the interior and base enamelled turquoise, the base centred with an iron-red six-character seal mark within a square cartouche reserved in white.

Note: This charming vase belongs to a group of famille-rose wares finely painted with figurative scenes against richly decorated coloured grounds. Wares of this type began to be produced in the late Qianlong reign to resemble paintings mounted between textile borders and remained popular into the Daoguang period.

Painted with a lively design of five boys playfully fighting for a helmet, the scene represents the wish for sons to attain ‘first place’ in the civil service examinations. It references the story of the five eminent sons of Dou Yujun, who achieved exceptional success in the civil service examinations. Dou, a scholar, educator and official, lived at Yanshan during the Five Dynasties period and was revered as the ideal parent for successfully raising five outstanding sons.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, London, 08 Nov 2017, 11:00 AM