56.
A POLYCHROME ENAMELLED VASE, MEIPING
Qing dynasty, Shunzhi period
30 cm high
Provenance: Naples, Villa della Floridiana, Museo Duca di Martina, Placido de Sangro (1829-1891) collection.
inv. n. 3968.
The baluster shaped vase is decorated on the body with tree peonies and chrysanthemums growing amidst rockwork and grass, against a pearl diaper ground, set with insects and the sun. All framed between waves, key-frets and classic scroll borders above the foot, and classic scroll, lotus scroll, demi-flowerhead zigzag pattern and wave border on the shoulders.
The peony 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 meaning “long enduring”.
A related polychrome enamelled meiping vase, Shunzhi period, is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (inv. n. C.1007-1910).
