A FAMILLE ROSE 'TWELVE MAGPIES AND PRUNUS' VASE, TIANQIUPING, REPUBLIC PERIOD China, 1912-1949. Heavily potted with a globular body surmounted by a tall cylindrical neck, the exterior brightly painted in polychrome enamels with ten magpies on the lower body and two at the neck, perched on flowering prunus branches and in flight, further with lingzhi and bamboo.

Provenance: French trade.
Condition: Very good condition with minor old wear and some manufacturing flaws, the foot with russet stains issuing from a metal base probably once fitted to the foot.

Weight: 1,582 g
Dimensions: Height 34.5 cm

The recessed base with an apocryphal underglaze-blue four-character mark Qianlong nianzhi.

This impressive vase is rich with symbolism. Magpies are considered good fortune birds and a group of twelve is especially auspicious, representing twelve good wishes. The combination of magpies and prunus, the early spring blossoms, also signifies double good news. Finally, the magpie perched on the top prunus branch is a rebus for 'happiness up to the tips of one's eyebrows'.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 16 September 2017, lot 990
Price: USD 37,500 or approx. EUR 43,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Two famille-rose 'magpie and prunus' vases 20th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and motif with magpies, prunus branches and lingzhi, as well as the Qianlong seal mark. Note that the lot comprises two vases.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 19 February 2014, lot 265
Price: GBP 5,000 or approx. EUR 7,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large famille rose vase, tianqiuping, Qianlong seal mark, 19th/20th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and motif with twelve magpies, prunus branches and lingzhi, as well as the Qianlong seal mark to the base. Note the size (51.5 cm).



民國粉彩喜上眉梢天球瓶
中國，1912-1949年。長頸，豐肩，球形腹，圈足。通體粉彩繪畫喜上眉梢紋飾。古人以喜鵲作為喜的象徵，而喜爱的梅花谐音“眉”字。畫喜鵲站在梅花枝梢，即組成了“喜上眉（梅）梢”的吉祥圖案。梅樹下繪有靈芝如意。

來源：法國古玩交易市場。
品相：狀況極好，有輕微的磨損和一些製造瑕疵，足部有金屬底座留下的褐色污漬。

重量：1,582 克
尺寸：高34.5 厘米

圈足内青花“乾隆年製”四字偽款。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2017年9月16日，lot 990
價格：USD 37,500（相當於今日EUR 43,000）
描述：二十世紀一對粉彩喜上眉梢瓶
專家評論：比較非常相近的外型和喜上眉梢主題，以及乾隆款。請注意此瓶為一對。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：倫敦邦瀚斯，2014年2月19日，lot 265
價格：GBP 5,000（相當於今日EUR 7,000）
描述：十九或二十世紀乾隆款大型粉彩天球瓶
專家評論：比較非常相近的外型、喜上眉梢主題，以及底部乾隆款。請注意尺寸較大(51.5 厘米)。