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Lot Essay
The combination of peony and butterflies was a common theme in the Qing dynasty, but was rarely depicted on marriage bowls. Peony, fuguihua, and butterflies, hudie, are homonyms for fudie fugui, which translates to 'may you have an accumulation of blessings, wealth, and high social status.' These wishes for a fortuitous future are suitable for the vessel which would have been given to a couple as a wedding gift.
A similar white jade marriage bowl, dated to the 18th century and decorated with butterflies and peach from the personal collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 November 2007, lot 1503. Another 18th century marriage bowl, but decorated with prunus rather than peony, was sold at Christie's New York, 15 March 2015, lot 3032. Compare, also, the white jade marriage bowl carved on the exterior with lotus illustrated by Yang Boda, Romance with Jade: From the De An Tang Collection, Hong Kong, 2004, p. 30, pl. 8.
A similar white jade marriage bowl, dated to the 18th century and decorated with butterflies and peach from the personal collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 November 2007, lot 1503. Another 18th century marriage bowl, but decorated with prunus rather than peony, was sold at Christie's New York, 15 March 2015, lot 3032. Compare, also, the white jade marriage bowl carved on the exterior with lotus illustrated by Yang Boda, Romance with Jade: From the De An Tang Collection, Hong Kong, 2004, p. 30, pl. 8.
