18TH CENTURY

细节

A FINE WHITE JADE MARRIAGE BOWL
18TH CENTURY
Carved and pierced with ruyi and bat handles suspending loose rings to the sides, above a band of waves around the exterior in shallow relief and supported on four caparisoned elephant feet, the interior carved in high relief with a central shou character between bats and cloud scrolls, the well polished stone of an even white tone
9¾ in. (24.7 cm.) wide

来源

T. B. Kitson Collection; Sotheby's London, 30 May 1961, lot 440.
With John Sparks Ltd., London.

注意事项

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

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拍品专文

Bowls of this type are known as 'marriage' bowls, and with their carefully chosen auspicious decoration, were popular in Qing dynasty China, specially under the reign of the Qianlong emperor.
The interior of the bowl is carved with five bats flying freely amidst ruyi clouds and encircling a shou character. The word for bats in Chinese, fu, combined with the number five, wu, creates the rebus wufu which refers to the Five Blessings - longevity, health, weatlh, love of virtue and a peaceful death.

The bowl is supported on four caparisoned elephant feet, each bearing a vessel with flower stems on its back. Elephants were indigenous to China in pre-historic times and survived in the south until comparatively recently. Buddhists regarded them as a symbol of the Universal ruler because of their strength and size.