清乾隆 景德鎮窯紅地軋道粉彩團花紋大瓶|Vase decorated with floral medallions

Unknown

mid-18th century · Porcelain painted in overglaze enamels and gilding with engraved decoration (Jingdezhen ware) · Asian Art

This lavish vase, produced in the imperial kilns of the Qing dynasty, is a virtual compendium of auspicious images, including lotus, dragons, bottle gourds, and more. Particularly prominent are the bats; because “bat” (fu 蝠) sounds like “good fortune” (fu 福) in Chinese, the animals bear this symbolic meaning.

Artist

Unknown

Date

mid-18th century

Medium

Porcelain painted in overglaze enamels and gilding with engraved decoration (Jingdezhen ware)

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913