YELLOW WUFU VASE.
China.

Porcelain; overglaze colors on a yellow background. Inside; the underside of the handles and underneath the foot glazed turquoise. Flattened double guard shape with two curved handles; decorated with dense; symmetrically arranged scrolls and leaves. On the front and back each two large lotus flowers with shou sign in the center and dense petals around. The flower on the lower part surrounded additionally by five red bats. The foot with a ruyi border.

The double gourd (hu) and bats (bianfu) are a homonyms and symbols for good luck/happiness and are often applied in combination. Here elegantly distributed on form and decor. The five bats (wufu) stand for the five congratulations: long life; prosperity; health; love of virtue and a peaceful death in old age. Height 22cm; width 15cm. Underneath spared out of the turquoise glaze and in underglaze blue: A six-partite Qianlong mark; but probably later. Condition A. Supplement: Older Japanese wooden storage box.

Provenance:
-Private Collection Baden-W黵ttenberg. Acquired at Galerie Herbert Cresnik; Baden-Baden.

Literature:
-Illustrated Catalogue of Ch'ing Dynasty Porcelain in the National Palace Museum: Ch'ien-lung and Other Wares. Vol. II Tokyo 1981. Compare type fig. 3.
-The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty. Shanghai. 2003. Compare type fig. 277.Art trade; Van Ham.