Lot 216
LARGE FAMILLE ROSE 'DANCING LADIES' VASE
QING DYNASTY, 18TH-19TH CENTURY
Fine Asian & Islamic Works of Art
Auction: 16 May 2023 from 10:00 BST
Description
清 粉彩綠地描金通景歌舞升平圖福在眼前雙螭耳大瓶
the tapered cylindrical body below a waisted neck and flaring rim with stylised flowerheads amongst scrolling foliage on a light olive ground, flanked with two pale blue chi-dragon handles, the central band painted with a continuous scene of courtly ladies playing various musical instruments in an elegant garden with water, bridge, pagoda, rockwork, pine trees, and rocky hills afar, a main lady on one side in dance flipping her right 'water-sleeve' over her head, the reverse the other main lady in dancing posture holding a tripod vessel up high, all between pink and olive green ruyi-shoulder bands with flowers, the base unglazed
Dimensions
64.5cm high
Provenance
Provenance: Formerly in a private French collection, Safia Sassi (by repute)
Footnote
Note: The depiction of this vase is based on a Chinese idiom, gewu shengping, which means singing and dancing extolling peaceful times. In the Qing dynasty this subject matter can be seen painted on a vase of lantern form, Qianlong mark and period, previously in the Qing Court, now in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, museum no. Gu Ci 故瓷7371N.
A larger vase comparable to the current lot, with similar shape, form and design of the decorations, including the arrangement of the ladies playing musical instruments and dancing, albeit with a ruby-red ground and the base inscribed with a Qianlong mark, dated to the period, was sold at Poly Beijing, 19 October 2020, lot 5071.