QIANLONG IMPRESSED SEAL MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

This vase is distinguished by its elegant lobed form and fine relief decoration. Executed through a combination of molding and carving, the design required considerable technical sophistication to achieve the crisp contours and harmonious proportions. Two slightly larger Qianlong-marked celadon-glazed vases of similar lobed form and decorated in relief with upside down bats on the upper body, but with confronted scrolling archaistic dragons below and with mask handles flanking the narrow sides, are in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei (acc. nos. 故瓷007618N000000000 and 故瓷007619N000000000).

The pairing of peaches and bats on the current vase is highly auspicious. The bat (fu 蝠) is a homophone for ‘blessing’ or ‘good fortune’ (fu 福), while the peach is traditionally associated with longevity. When depicted together, they convey the auspicious phrase fu shou shuang quan (福壽雙全), meaning ‘may both blessings and longevity be yours in abundance.’ The depiction of the bat upside down is a deliberate visual pun derived from the homophony between dao (倒, ‘upside down’) and dao (到, ‘to arrive’), conveying the auspicious wish for the ‘arrival of blessings’ (fu dao 福到).