QIANLONG SIX-CHARACTER SEAL MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

The combination in the use of underglaze-blue, famille rose enamels and iron-red on the present vase creates a striking visual effect. Two Qianlong-marked meiping vases of the same design appear to be recorded. The first example is of larger size (32.5 cm. high) with a cover in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in Porcelains with Cloisonne Enamel Decoration and Famille Rose Decoration, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1999, no. 90 (fig. 1). The second example of a slightly smaller vase (14 cm. high) without a mark was sold at Sotheby's London, 12 July 2006, lot 144; it was noted in the catalogue entry that the London vase and the present example once belonged to the same family collection in the early 20th century.

The motif of a ripe pomegranate, bursting to expose its seeds provides the rebus for liukai baizi, 'Pomegranate revealing one hundred sons', or Qianzi tongmo, 'One thousand sons within the same generation', conveys the auspicious wish for numerous sons.