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Lot Essay
The present vase is exceedingly rare, distinguished by its unique and unusual shape. Only one comparable example appears to be known with nearly identical shape, size, and decoration, and is in the collection of Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Blue and White Porcelains with Underglaze Red (III), Hong Kong, 2010, p. 134, no. 120 (fig. 1). The present vase differs from the Palace Museum example in a few aspects: the lobing on the neck is less prominent; the decoration on the present vase is in mirror image to that of the Palace Museum example; and the execution of the painting on the two vases is slightly different. Despite these differences, the fine potting, lustrous glaze and the very typical brilliant blue used in the Ming style ‘heaped and piled’ on the present vase all indicate that it is undoubtedly the work from the imperial kiln of Qianlong period. According to Qing Dang (Qing Archives), on the 7th day of the 8th month in the 38th year of the Qianlong reign (1773), “a pair of Xuande-style blue and white ‘eternal blessings and longevity’ vases was submitted”. This entry may refer to the present vase and the vase in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, suggesting that they were a pair and was specially commissioned to celebrate the emperor’s birthday.
Peaches have long been associated with auspicious symbolism and are often used as the main motif on imperial porcelain. Compare to a Yongzheng-marked blue and white olive-shaped ‘peach’ vase, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Blue and White Porcelains with Underglaze Red (III), Hong Kong, 2010, p. 93, no. 79 (fig. 2), the peaches are executed in a similar style, further substantiating that the present vase was likely made during the early Qianlong period. The combination of peaches and bats forms the wishes for longevity and happiness. The motifs of the five bats symbolise the 'Five Blessings': longevity, wealth, health, virtue and a fulfilled lifespan. Peaches have long been associated with longevity, reinforcing this theme. Furthermore the depiction of breaking waves and rocks (mountain) serve as a rebus for shou shan fu hai, 'Longevity as lasting as the mountain and blessings as vast as the Sea'. Moreover, the combination of the number nine and five is a sacred number solely reserved for the use of the emperor.
Other Qianlong-marked vessels decorated with the same subject matter and executed in similar Ming-style can be found in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, see a blue and white vase with ruyi-handles, collection number: zhongci003769N (fig. 3); and a blue and white moonflask, collection number: zhongci003558N (fig. 4).
Peaches have long been associated with auspicious symbolism and are often used as the main motif on imperial porcelain. Compare to a Yongzheng-marked blue and white olive-shaped ‘peach’ vase, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Blue and White Porcelains with Underglaze Red (III), Hong Kong, 2010, p. 93, no. 79 (fig. 2), the peaches are executed in a similar style, further substantiating that the present vase was likely made during the early Qianlong period. The combination of peaches and bats forms the wishes for longevity and happiness. The motifs of the five bats symbolise the 'Five Blessings': longevity, wealth, health, virtue and a fulfilled lifespan. Peaches have long been associated with longevity, reinforcing this theme. Furthermore the depiction of breaking waves and rocks (mountain) serve as a rebus for shou shan fu hai, 'Longevity as lasting as the mountain and blessings as vast as the Sea'. Moreover, the combination of the number nine and five is a sacred number solely reserved for the use of the emperor.
Other Qianlong-marked vessels decorated with the same subject matter and executed in similar Ming-style can be found in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, see a blue and white vase with ruyi-handles, collection number: zhongci003769N (fig. 3); and a blue and white moonflask, collection number: zhongci003558N (fig. 4).