Vintage Famille Rose Porcelain Water Coupe – Boys & Pomegranate Motif, Guangxu Mark

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Description

This is a charming vintage porcelain water coupe , also known as a "horse-hoof" form vessel, traditionally used by scholars … Read more This is a charming vintage porcelain water coupe , also known as a "horse-hoof" form vessel, traditionally used by scholars for holding water to mix ink. The piece features a domed, rounded body with a wide, unglazed mouth rim and a flat base. The exterior is decorated in the famille rose palette against a creamy white ground with a lively scene of "boys at play" (婴戏童子). Three young boys in colorful robes (yellow, pink, blue, and green) are depicted in a garden setting: one blows a long trumpet, one holds a stick of firecrackers, and another covers his ears in anticipation. They are surrounded by leafy branches bearing large, split pomegranates—a classic symbol of fertility and abundant offspring—along with butterflies and scattered grass. The reverse side bears a three-character inscription in black calligraphy reading "开口笑" (Kai Kou Xiao), which translates to "Open Mouth Smiling" or "Laughing Out Loud," a playful reference to the joyful scene. The base bears a six-character iron-red seal mark reading "大清光绪年製" (Made in the Great Qing Guangxu Period), indicating it is a vintage revival piece in the Guangxu style. A refined and highly collectible scholar's object.

Dimensions & Measurements:

Height: 8.5 cm (approx. 3.35 inches)

Length: 8.5 cm (approx. 3.35 inches)

Width: 8.5 cm (approx. 3.35 inches) See less