Rare, Chinese 18th C. Qing Dynasty Period, Qianlong famille rose magpie & prunus motif ruby red porcelain pear vase in hardwood box. The fine porcelain potted in Chinese traditional YuHuChun shape vessel, the pear shaped bottle vase, slight ovoid body, a bottom-heavy body tapered gracefully to slender waisted neck, with wide flaring mouth rim, supported on short small foot base, slight concave. All reserved hand painted ornamentations are rendered in ruby red under glazed base color which contrast against the famille rose design color. Red is the most important variety of China’s porcelain. It was originated in the Qing Dynasty. Its color does not easily fade and durability is longer. It used cabaltous oxide as the colorant. Patterns were directly painted onto the inner body and burnt after glaze was applied on it. The red color of the packet symbolizes good luck, corresponding with fire, symbolizes good fortune and joy. Red is found everywhere during Chinese New Year and other holiday celebrations and family gatherings. And Famille rose hand painting depicted vividly hand painted in colorful design, famille rose translates to the pink family, on a colored ground decoration. Each bulging sides enclosing colorful falangcai, famille rose on a colored ground decoration, of BaJiXiang. The Exterior delicately fine depicted with magpie bird among prunus flowers blooms and branch sturdy tree. The botanically correct name is Prunus Mume. If we want to be be more precise I think a better name is plum blossom or meihua in Chinese. Because the flowers emerge before the leaves and it takes a long time to come into flower it is associated with longevity. It is often shown with a crane, another symbol of longevity; with a ruyi is is a wish for a peaceful, long life. A popular pattern has plum blossom over cracked ice symbolizing Spring. A plum tree at Huangmei, Hebei is believed to be 1,600 years old. The Daoist philosopher Laozi is said to have been born beneath a plum tree. The five petals of the flower represent one of the many fives in Chinese symbolism including the five gods of prosperity, five good fortunes, five good luck gods. The Lines of the drawings are clear, the light and dark shades are subtle. The colors are harmonious, elegant and exquisite, the composition is sophisticated, simply a feast for the eye. The glaze is seamless and gives off a beautiful luster, with the colors maintaining excellent vibrancy. Elegantly presented upon a carved hardwood stand and fitted original hardwood box, with royal grayish interior cushion, adorned with flaming ruyi pattern on gray metallic thread ribbon. The porcelain conformed all required specimen to be high valued Chinese porcelain wares, with finest material, the whiteness, the glaze, and the carving. Without overlap the outlines of the design, well carved, clear, subtle, distinct, and the shape is uniformly proportioned. Mark on under base, a six under glazed red seal script characters reign mark, QianLong Reign Period of Great Qing Dynasty. Dimensions: 7.25"L x 11.875"H