A PAIR OF CHINESE FAMILLE ROSE RUBY-GROUND 'LANTERNS' MEDALLION BOWLS

SIX CHARACTER DAOGUANG MARKS AND OF THE PERIOD 1821-50

The sides painted with four roundels containing vases with 'Lanterns of Abundance', and elegant grouping of antiques and auspicious objects, each roundel divided by lotus blossoms on leafy stems, all reserved on a ruby sgraffiato ground, the interiors decorated in shaded tones of cobalt blue with stylised central medallions, encircled by large lanterns with suspending tassels to the cavettos, 14.8cm. (2)

Provenance: sold on behalf of an English deceased estate, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Cf. The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Porcelain with Cloisonne Enamel Decoration and Famille Rose Decoration, Hong Kong, 1999, p.244, no.216, for a bowl of this design.

In Chinese culture, lantern decorations are typically associated with festivals and auspicious occasions, such as weddings. Ears of grain accompanied by a lantern represents wugu fengdeng and is a wish for a bumper harvest of the five grains. The symbol of an elephant carrying a vase is a pun on taiping youxuang and signifies peace, stability and happiness.