QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)

Details

A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL 'SHOU’ BOTTLE VASE
QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
The globular body is supported on a slightly splayed foot, decorated on the exterior with rows of shou character, all below bands of lotus spray and ruyi-head at the shoulder. The trumpet-form neck is similarly decorated and flanked by a pair of gilt-metal stylised ruyi handles.
11 1/4 in. (28.5 cm) high

Literature

Suzhou Museum, Colorful, Elegant, and Exquisite- A Special Exhibition of Imperial Enamel Ware from Mr. Robert Chang’s Collection, Shanghai, 2007, pp. 38-39

Exhibited

Suzhou Museum, Colorful, Elegant, and Exquisite- A Special Exhibition of Imperial Enamel Ware from Mr. Robert Chang’s Collection, 28 December 2007- 8 May 2008

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

Vessels decorated with shou characters were mostly made for birthday celebrations for the imperial family, often seen on bowls and dishes. According to Qing court records, in the 45th year of the Qianlong reign (1780), a large number of cloisonné enamel bowls and dishes decorated with wanshou wujiang characters were produced for the celebration of the Emperor's 70th birthday; such vessels can be seen in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Enamels 2- Cloisonné in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Beijing, 2011, pp. 351-352 and 354, no. 281, 282 and 284. Large vases with shou character decorations like the present lot are very rare, and further showcases the multidimensional artistic expression of the Qianlong period.

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