Description
A fine and rare Chinese white jade gourd-shaped Bats and Clouds vase Qianlong 1736-95, the surface carved in shallow relief with six bats flying amidst fungus-shaped clouds, the rim with a band of key fret and raised on a low oval footrim, 15.5cm. Together with a hardwood stand. (2)
Provenance: an English private collection. Paper label for John Sparks Ltd.
The Chinese word for bottle gourd, hulu, is a pun for both 'blessings and wealth'. Used together with bats, fu, it can mean 'may you have blessings and wealth for ten thousand generations'. This is re-emphasised by the clouds which represent fortune or luck.
Cf. An Illustrated Record of the Stanley Charles Nott Collection of Chinese Jades, p.238 for another jade gourd-shaped vase also carved with bats amidst clouds.
