Lot 418. A blue and white 'duck and lotus pond' dish and a Zhangzhou-type 'fish' dish, 17th century. Diamètre du plat bleu blanc : 35 cm. (13 3⁄4 in.). Diamètre du plat 'Zhangzhou' : 31 cm. (12 1⁄4 in.). Estimate EUR 2,500 - EUR 3,500. Price Realised EUR 7,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2021

Provenance: Private European collection, predominantly assembled by the current owner's father from the 1970s to 1990s, then by descent within the family.

Note: Both dishes are decorated with auspicious designs. Mandarin ducks are thought to mate for life so pairs of ducks are associated with harmony and marital fidelity. The 'ducks in a lotus pond' design was popular throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties and ducks in association with lotus, a homphone for the word for harmony he, can represent a wish for sons. Fish are also considered auspicious on many levels. The word for fish, yu, is a homophone for abundance, while the carp is a precious golden fish that shares a homophone with the word for profit, li.

Christie's. Art of Asia, Paris, 4 June - 25 June 2021