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Lot Essay
Bowls of this form carved with auspicious motifs are commonly known as 'marriage bowls' because their auspicious imagery usually alludes to felicitous wishes for a happy married life but the motifs vary greatly and are sometimes more appropriate as birthday wishes such as those found on the bowls in the current sale, lot 3599.
The present example belongs to a group which can unequivocally be referred to as marriage bowls. The two fish swimming around the stone chime refers to the double fish, Shangyu and the stone chime, Qing, together forming the phrase Jiqing youyu, 'May there be a superabundance of auspicious happiness' and Shuangyu jiqing, conjugal bliss. The two facing butterflies forming the handles signify 'Joyful encounter', Xi xiangfeng, and by extension marital happiness. The lotus flowers, Hehua or Lianhua are puns for harmony He and successive generations Lian. All of these symbols, together with double Xi characters, would have made this bowl a highly auspicious and appropriate wedding gift.
The present example belongs to a group which can unequivocally be referred to as marriage bowls. The two fish swimming around the stone chime refers to the double fish, Shangyu and the stone chime, Qing, together forming the phrase Jiqing youyu, 'May there be a superabundance of auspicious happiness' and Shuangyu jiqing, conjugal bliss. The two facing butterflies forming the handles signify 'Joyful encounter', Xi xiangfeng, and by extension marital happiness. The lotus flowers, Hehua or Lianhua are puns for harmony He and successive generations Lian. All of these symbols, together with double Xi characters, would have made this bowl a highly auspicious and appropriate wedding gift.