Lot 146. A famille rose 'butterfly and gourds' bowl and cover, Jiaqing six-character seal marks in underglaze blue and of the period (1796-1820). Estimate £2,000 - £3,000 ($2,600-3,800). Price Realised £1,875 ($2,708). Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2016. 

The bowl and cover are each finely decorated with butterflies amongst trailing vine bearing numerous gourds. 8 ¾ in. (22.4 cm.) diam.

Provenance: Old Swedish Collection.
R.T.Collection.

Note: Bottle gourds on vine as well as the combination of butterflies and gourds are a pun for 'may there be ceaseless generations of sons and grandsons'.

Christie's. CHINESE CERAMICS, WORKS OF ART AND TEXTILES PART I, 11 May 2016, London, South Kensington