91.
A PAIR OF ‘BLUE AND WHITE’ BOTTLE VASES
Qing dynasty, Kangxi period, early 18th century
25 cm high each
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina, Placido de Sangro (1829-1891) collection.
inv. nn. 3280, 3283.
Standing on a high splayed circular foot, the globular body rising to a long neck with two bulbous ribs and everted mouth rim, the exterior decorated with baskets and vases of flowers.
Baskets are considered symbolic of abundance because they can hold many items, especially flowers. This subject had a particular success on Chinese porcelain of the eighteenth century explicitly destined to Europe, where it was appreciated because of the harmony of such compositions.
