Lot 876. A pair of famille rose dishes, Tongzhi four-character marks in iron red and of the period (1862-1875); 9 7/8 in. (25.1 cm.) high. Price realised USD 27,500 (Estimate USD 8,000 - USD 12,000). © Christie's 2021

The vase is decorated on the exterior with lotus sprays and four of the Eight Buddhist Emblems (bajixiang) on the trumpet-shaped mouth, all above a key-fret band interrupted by the reign mark. The remaining four emblems are on the bell-shaped foot above a band of blue key fret. The interior and base are covered with turquoise enamel.

Provenance: Acquired prior to 1973 and thence by descent to the present owner.

Note: The type of formal decoration seen on the present vase, that of a dense design of flower scroll executed in rich famille rose enamels
which are then enhanced on a bright monochrome ground, is found on other vases and jars of Jiaqing date. See a meiping of Jiaqing date in the Qing Court Collection illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 39 - Porcelains with Cloisonne Enamel Decoration and Famille Rose Decoration, Hong Kong, 1999, p. 195, pl. 172, where the decoration of lotus scroll, like the subject vase, is on a lime-green ground, but also includes Buddhist emblems and shou characters. Also see a lime-green ground bottle vase with famille rose lotus scroll design incorporating butterflies and bats illustrated by G. Avitabile in From the Dragon’s Treasure, Chinese Porcelain from the 19th and 20th centuries in the Weishaupt Collection, London, 1987, p. 33, no. 23.