YIXING, 1800-1870

Blue-glazed Yixing bottles with enameled decoration were first produced in the late 18th century and flourished in the later Qing dynasty. Another bottle with the same subject from the Holden Collection, was offered in these rooms, 21 March 2000, lot 23. Another was in the Kaynes-Klitz Collection, Sotheby's Hong Kong, 3 November 1994, lot 1003.

Two magpies, shuangxi, form the rebus 'Double Happiness', and its combination with prunus, a symbol of longevity, would have made this bottle an appropriate wedding gift.