QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

Details

A PAINTED ENAMEL YELLOW-GROUND BOWL
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
Finely painted around the exterior with a wide leafy composite floral frieze, the interior painted with five pink bats (wufu) amidst multi-colored auspicious clouds above a shou medallion superimposed on a peach sprig in the center, the base with a phoneix roundel in shaded blue enamel
6 in. (15.2 cm.) diam., box

Provenance

Collection of Hon. Hugh J. Grant (1858-1910) and Julia Murphy Grant (d. 1944), New York.
Collection of Hugh J. Grant (1904-1981) and Lucie Mackey Grant (1908-2007), New York.

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Lot Essay

Hon. Hugh J. Grant served as mayor of New York City for two terms from 1889-1892.

The symbolism seen on the present bowl is especially auspicious, and may suggest that it was intended as a gift on the occassion of one's birthday. Five bats (wufu) represent the Five Blessings (long life, wealth, health, love of virtue, and a natural death), and their combination here with the shou medallion forms the rebus wufu qingshou (five bats extend good wishes on one's birthday). The addition of peaches underneath the shou medallion further strengthens the wish for longevity, as peaches are symbols of immortality.

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