Lot 2088. A pair of large famille rose ‘Hundred deer’ hu-form vases, Guangxu period (1875-1908); 18 in. (45.8 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 200,000 - HKD 300,000. Price realised HKD 325,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2019
Each vase is decorated with a herd of deer and their young, grazing, gamboling and resting in a lush landscape of pine and peach trees and a meandering stream flowing through blue-shaded rock formations from high mountains in the distance. On the shoulders, each side is flanked with realistically modelled deer-head handles. The base of each is inscribed with an apocryphal Qianlong six-character mark in iron-red.
Note: Vases of this form and decoration enjoyed popularity during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor (1736-1795), and continued to remain popular through the 19th century and into the Guangxu period (1875-1908). A vase similar to the present pair was sold at Christie’s London, 9 November 2004, lot 182; another similar one was sold at Christie’s New York, 22-23 March 2018, lot 834.
The ‘hundred deer’ motif was very popular as the landscape depicted contains important symbolic references. The deer has a long history in Chinese art as it refers to the rebus in which the Chinese word for ‘deer’ is a homophone for ‘emolument’ or ‘civil service salary’; the ‘hundred deer’ therefore represent the ultimate success, a career in civil service in Imperial China. The deer is also associated with Daoism and the Star God of Longevity, Shoulao, while the inclusion of peaches in the decoration is further symbolic of longevity. As such, the subject-matter on the present vase has a multitude of auspicious connotations.
Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 27 November 2019