YONGZHENG SIX-CHARACTER MARKS WITHIN DOUBLE SQUARES AND OF THE PERIOD (1723-1735)

Each of the doucai cups bears a lingzhi fungus and flower design that originated on doucai porcelains of the Chenghua reign (1465-1487) and continued to find favour with imperial patrons of doucai porcelains in succeeding reigns of both the Ming and Qing dynasties. Lingzhi fungus is associated with immortality and Daoism. Its stylised form is ruyi head which is shown on these cups. For examples of the Chenghua version see Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colours, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1999, p. 199, no. 181; Catalogue of the Special Exhibition of Cheng-hua Porcelain Ware, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2003, pp. 154-155, nos. 145-149.

A similar Yongzheng-marked cup is in the collection of the Percival David Foundation, illustrated by S. Pierson, Designs as Signs: Decoration and Chinese Ceramics, London, 2001, p. 75, no. 75. Another example is in the Palace Museum, Beijing, see Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colours, p. 257, no. 235.