57.
A POLYCHROME ENAMELLED BOTTLE VASE
Qing dynasty, Shunzhi period
34,5 cm
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina, Placido de Sangro (1829-1891) collection.
inv. n. 4682.
The vase is decorated with leafy sprays of chrysanthemums, tree peonies and mallow flowers, with insects and rocks, all reserved against a scale diaper ground.
The peony, associated with the third month, is known as the ‘king of flowers’ and is also known as Fu gui hua, meaning “the flower of wealth and honour”; the chrysanthemum (ju) represents autumn and is symbolic of long life, because the name sounds similar to the word 久 jiu, meaning “long enduring”. The mallow is associated with the ninth month and also symbolises wealth and glory.
See a similarly decorated vase, but with a garlic-mouth, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. n. 19.28.1).
