A massive famille rose 'four clawed dragon' vase, late Qing dynasty, 19th century.
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Heavily potted with a baluster body raising to a tall flared neck, decorated in vivid enamels of iron-red, green, yellow, rose and blue with five four-clawed dragons striding in pursuit of the flaming pearl amidst billowing clouds above crashing waves, all below a gilded rim. Height 92 cm. Height with wooden stand 106 cm.
Starcrack to base.
Provenance
Property of a private collector, purchased in Hong Kong in the 1970's.
Literature
The decorative scheme of dragons in different writhing poses, centered around a forward-facing dragon, can be seen on other vases of Qing date, such as the green and yellow-glazed meiping and cover dated to the Qianlong period, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - Miscellaneous Enamelled Porcelains, Plain Tricoloured Porcelains, Hong Kong, 2009, pp. 126-29, no. 104.
More information
The decoration seen on this massive vase with auspicious meaning. Firstly, the dragon, they symbolize power, wisdom, prosperity, and more.
The four clawed dragon, often associated with princes, nobles, and high-ranking officials.
The clouds between the dragons provide a rebus for good fortune, as they are shaped like lingzhi fungus and thus suggest a wish for long life.