Celadon Porcelain Famille Rose Vase Chinese, iron red seal mark for Qianlong; very finely carved body with archaistic decoration in relief, two sides set with panels of finely enameled famille rose landscapes with Western figures, gilt surrounds, gilt highlights at rim, handles and base, set on finely carved hardwood base, 6-1/2 in., 8-1/4 in. with hardwood stand, rim with small chips, one small crack at corner of rim (possibly small chip re-stuck in place), loss to one gilt "button" at shoulder, otherwise good condition with some light wear and losses to gilding. Notes: This vase, with its finely painted enamels depicting western figures, is an extreme rarity. Related examples include a bottle-form vase depicting two western women that is among the highlights of the Sir Percival David collection at the British Museum. Another example is a flask in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Of this vase, which also depicts European figures, the V&A writes “While many such ceramics were made for export, as trade with foreigners gained momentum an elite Chinese urban clientele began to seek exotic foreign goods to demonstrate their status and sophistication, and the Qing emperors also began collecting and became patrons to artistic creation. The Palace Workshops took the lead in producing enameled porcelain decorated with images of western women, and created a trend for porcelain objects such as snuff bottles, and this double-sided, gourd-shaped bottle.” The western figures on the present vase are most intriguing but their meaning has not been deciphered. On one side a western gentleman is depicted in a red cloak and holding a cushion or platter that displays a single mystical flaming pearl, a powerful symbol often viewed as a metaphor for wisdom, enlightenment and spiritual essence. A young boy holding a vase with flowers is looking up at the pearl. The two figures are depicted in a finely rendered landscape with trees. The verso depicts a gentleman, perhaps the same figure, this time in a blue coat and depicted holding a falcon. At his right is a maiden holding a platter filled with fruit. Both scenes are very finely rendered in carefully shaded hues of polychrome enamels with such details as striated bark on the trunks of trees and a range of green hues among the leaves. These panels are surrounded by a vase that is pale blue to celadon glazed with extraordinary carved decoration with stylized dragon heads and clouds in the archaic taste, the body and the panel surrounds with gilt details. Such pieces with celadon bodies and enameled panels are also rare. Among related works are a larger famille rose decorated “boys” vase sold at Sotheby’s, 7 April 2015, for 63 million HKD. Another large example with carved celadon ground and famille rose panels sold at Christie’s, The Imperial Sale, 29 April 2001. A moon flask with famille rose panels on celadon ground was among the collection of Alfred Morrison at Fonthill House and subsequently sold at Christie’s and at Sotheby’s. While the exact history of this vase remains unknown, circumstantial evidence suggests it was a part of the collection of Charles Oswald Liddell, an important early British collector. Liddell (1854-1941) lived and worked in China from 1877 to 1913 and while there established one of the finest collections of Chinese porcelains of the time. During those years he purchased a number of pieces from the collection of Prince Chun, the last regent of the Qing Dynasty and also from the collection of the private secretary and advisor of Li Hong Zhang. In 1929 the London dealers Bluett & Sons offered part of the collection for sale. The collection amassed by Liddell was of the highest quality, and examples from the collection are now held by some of the world’s finest museums. In addition, several examples from the Liddell collection have come to auction, including a moon flask sold Bonham’s, 7 November 2013, for $2,244,000 and a 5-inch famille verte bowl sold Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 7 April 2011, for $1,957,000, as part of the Meiyintang collection. While the present vase is not clearly identified, Bluett’s Catalog records a number of related pieces with celadon green ground, including a “oblong vase with two handles, circular panels in relief enameled with landscapes, the body with a formal design in gilt on a pale celadon green ground. Imperial ware. Marked in period of Qianlong. Height 4-1/2 inches.” In May 2008, Brunk Auctions offered several pieces from the same estate as the present vase. A number of those bore Liddell Collection labels, and did appear in the Bluett catalog. While the present vase does not have a label, it may well have also originated with Liddell. This vase, and the Liddell pieces previously offered, were all purchased by the consignor’s family at The Fine Arts Company of Philadelphia, September 28 and 29, 1978.. Provenance: Thought to be from the collection of Charles Oswald Liddell, collected in China, late 19th/early 20th century; sold The Fine Arts Company of Philadelphia, September 28 and 29, 1978, Lot 311; Estate of Thelma Osborne, Wilkesboro, North Carolina, by descent
 

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rim with small chips, one small crack at corner of rim (possibly small chip re-stuck in place), loss to one gilt "button" at shoulder, otherwise good condition with some light wear and losses to gilding