Pair of Chinese Famille Rose ‘Immortals’ Bottle Vases

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Description

Republic period or later, first half / mid-20th century
A charming pair of Chinese bottle vases, each with a globular … Read more Republic period or later, first half / mid-20th century
A charming pair of Chinese bottle vases, each with a globular body rising to a slender cylindrical neck, painted in famille rose enamels with a continuous Daoist scene of longevity: Shoulao, the Star God of Longevity, with his domed brow and gnarled staff hung with a double gourd, accompanied by the female immortal Magu bearing a ruyi sceptre, attendant boys carrying auspicious offerings, and a spotted deer — emblem of prosperity and long life — all amid swirling iron-red clouds. A soft grisaille ink-wash of billowing mist rises up each neck, an unusual and painterly touch that unifies the composition. The subject, “Magu and Shoulao offering birthday felicitations,” was a favourite gift theme symbolising wishes for health and longevity. The recessed white-glazed bases are unmarked, one bearing an old pencilled collection number. Painted in a lively, illustrative hand characteristic of twentieth-century Jingdezhen workshops, the pair makes an engaging and decorative cabinet display. Sold as a pair.
— THE HOUSE —
From The Orient Gates: four generations of the Harb family, Damascene artisans and antique dealers since the 1870s, heirs of the painter Abou Sobhi Al-Tinawi (Muhammad Harb). Every piece is examined, restored and documented in our family ateliers. A certificate of authenticity accompanies every piece.
— DETAILS —
Origin: China
Period: Republic period or later, circa 1920–1960
Materials: Porcelain, Famille rose enamels
Dimensions: Height: 33 cm (13 in.) See less