QIANLONG FOUR-CHARACTER MARK IN BLUE ENAMEL WITHIN A DOUBLE SQUARE AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

The present ewer is of oval form with a short spout and a long chi-dragon shaped handle. The body is decorated on one side with the immortal Magu accompanied by a deer, symbolizing longevity, and the other side with a pair of magpies, peonies and a prunus tree, symbolizes prosperity and happiness.

The shape of the current lot is extremely rare, first created by modeling after Japanese lacquerware during the Yongzheng period. A painted enamel ewer of similar size and form, also bearing a Qianlong four-character mark in blue enamel yet decorated with landscape scene, is in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, digital archive no. gu-00116607 (Fig. 1). Another painted enamel ewer decorated with bird and flower is in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Masterpieces of Chinese Enamel Ware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1971, no. 44 (Fig. 2).