246.
TWO TUREENS AND A
STAND
PORCELAIN DECORATED IN
FAMILLE ROSE
ENAMELS AND
GOLD
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD (1736–1795),
CA. 1770–1780
TUREENS: HEIGHT 13 CM; LENGTH 14 CM; WIDTH 13 CM
HEIGHT 13 CM; LENGTH 14.4 CM; WIDTH 13 CM
STAND: HEIGHT 3.2 CM; LENGTH 19.5 CM; WIDTH 19.2 CM
INV. NOS. 658/1, 658/2 AND 658/3
Two three-lobed tureens moulded in the
form of three fruits joined together: a peach,
a pomegranate and a lemon known as
‘Buddha’s hand’ citron or
Citrus medica.
The tureens are cut horizontally into two
parts, the lid making up one third. It is
surmounted by a handle in the shape of a
tree rat sitting on its haunches, resting its
right paw on the pomegranate and gnawing
at a fruit held in its left paw. The trefoil-
shaped stand has a slightly convex base, left
unglazed, and rounded sides with an everted
rim, forming a flat lip.
All decorated in
famille rose
enamels: pink,
white, green, yellow, iron red, turquoise, blue,
brown and gold. The tureens’ decoration
shows two different stages in ripeness of
the constituent fruits. One of the tureens
(inv. no. 658/1) is composed of a green
pomegranate stained with small pink
blotches, and decorated with peony flowers
in various shades of pink and iron red, and
on the lid a camellia painted in various
shades of pink and green; a greenish peach
stained with pinkish blotches, gradually
turning pink on the ripe part of the fruit, and
decorated with floral sprays in shades of
pink, gold and blue; and a yellow lemon with
‘fingers’ decorated with pink dots and small
green blotches. The tree rat painted in light
brown enamel, the fur and claws depicted
using darker brown brush strokes. The inside
of the pomegranate flower head gilded.
On the other tureen (inv. no. 658/2) the fruits
are riper with the pinkish green of the
pomegranate gradually turning a dirty red;
the peach painted in brighter pink, with the
corresponding section of the lid entirely
painted in pink with a rosy red edge; the
lemon is less ripe than on the other tureen,
with green blotches on the base and the
upper part. The inside of both tureens
decorated with a flower spray.
The stand matches tureen no. 658/1, judging
by the colours of the three partially
overlapping fruits decorated with a
pomegranate still green, but open and
showing white seeds on a pink ground, and
additional flower sprays. The outside left
undecorated.
The base of each bears a label with the
inscription ‘A.A.P.I. Collection’ and ‘M.L.L.’ in
gold, in an oval medallion, and the inventory
number ‘R2 A’ handwritten in black ink.
The three fruits together symbolize the wish
for a long life (peach), a large family
(pomegranate) and great happiness (lemon).
As far as we know, the design of these
tureens is unique.
Published in:
Jorge Welsh, 2002, pp. 62–63, no. 30
96 .
CHINESE PORCELAIN WITH WESTERN SHAPES