46.
A PAIR OF WUCAI ENAMELLED ‘BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF GUO ZIYI’ JAR
Qing dynasty, circa 1660-1670
24 cm high each
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina, Gift of Placido De Sangro (1978).
inv. n. S. 1145-1146.
The jar is decorated in the wucai palette with General Guo Ziyi and his wife receiving good wishes from officials for his birthday celebration. Guo Ziyi (AD 697-781) was a Chinese general who loyally served four successive Tang dynasty emperors and was credited with saving the dynasty by quashing the An Lushan rebellion. For his successes General Guo was awarded the rank of Prince by Emperor Ming Huang (685-762) and lived in lavish retirement until his death at the age of eighty-four. General Guo came to personify the ideal Confucian official, serving his superiors and enjoying the rewards. After his death he became known in popular folklore as God of Wealth and Happiness. It is these sentiments which are represented by this subject matter.
A wucai vase decorated with similar subject matter is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (inv. n. 76-1883). This subject matter is very popular and continued throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth century depicted both on porcelain as well as in other media such as lacquer and paintings.
