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Lot Essay
Compare with three similar lacquered tables from the Qing Court collection, illustrated in Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (II), The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, 2002, pl.96 (which is dated Qianlong), pl.115 and pl.147.
Fish are considered to be auspicious on many levels. The word for fish, yu, is a homophone for abundance, while the carp is a more precious golden fish that shares a homophone with the word for profit, li. The imagery of the leaping carp refers to the proverb of the carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, an allusion to the scholar passing the state examinations to attain the position of an official.
Fish are considered to be auspicious on many levels. The word for fish, yu, is a homophone for abundance, while the carp is a more precious golden fish that shares a homophone with the word for profit, li. The imagery of the leaping carp refers to the proverb of the carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, an allusion to the scholar passing the state examinations to attain the position of an official.