IMPERIAL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, BEIJING, 1760-1820

The manner in which the slightly cloudy ground of the body of this bottle deepens to an opalescent white tone on the neck is very unusual. The refined carving style of the blue overlay reveals the work of the Palace workshops. The combination of the phoenix and the hawk is unusual; the phoenix is more often paired with the dragon, and the hawk with a bear. The phoenix, fenghuang, was an explicit emblem of the emperor and empress respectively and the fenghuang gazing at the sun (Danfeng chaoyang), symbolizes the opportunity to prove ones talents. The hawk (ying) represents greatness in the individual, and combined with a pine tree, implies the wish that such a great man will live a long life.