A PAIR OF CINNABAR LACQUER CARVED PEACH-SHAPED 'DAOIST IMMORTALS' BOXES AND COVERS
Qianlong
Qianlong
The covers variously depicting Shoulao and Han Xiangzi, each with two boy attendants, in landscapes of pine, paulownia trees and rockwork, within auspicious motif borders of bats and peaches, all reserved against geometric floral-pattern grounds, the bases decorated with further diaper-patterns. Each 12cm (4 3/4in) long. (4).
清乾隆 剔紅道教人物故事圖桃形蓋盒一對
Provenance:
Captain W.F. Collins (1865-1948), Beijing, who sent the lacquer boxes to Bluett's on 27 February 1926
Bluett & Sons Ltd., London
E. A. Parry (1879-1946), London, acquired from the above on 26 May 1926, and thence by descent
來源：
高林士於1926年2月27日由北京送至倫敦古董商Bluett's
倫敦古董商Bluett & Sons Ltd.
倫敦E. A. Parry（1879-1946）舊藏，於1926年5月26日購自上者，並由後人保存迄今
Captain William Fellows Collins was agent in Peking for the Anglo-French China Corporation Ltd and for S. Pearson & Son, and supplied Bluett's. John Sparks, Franck & Co and other dealers with consignments of Chinese ceramics and works of art from Beijing. He later reached the rank of Colonel and was awarded the DSO. For more information about Collins, see R.Davids and D.Jellinek, Provenance, Oxon, 2011, p.124.
Compare with a similar pair of peach-shaped boxes and covers with Daoist Immortals, Qianlong, which was presented by the Qianlong Emperor to Lord Macartney's Embassy of 1792-1794, illustrated by J.Ayers, Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen, London, 2016, p.865, nos.1988-1989.
The peach is among the most important auspicious symbols in Chinese culture, and vessels made in its form were very much favoured by the Emperors. Peaches became associated with Daoism and symbolised Immortality. According to legend, the Queen Mother of the West grew peaches in an orchard that would bestow Immortality on those who would eat them. Furthermore, the Daoist deity Shoulao, the God of Longevity, is often depicted holding a peach.
See a single related cinnabar lacquer peach box and cover with an Immortal on the cover, 18th century, which was sold at Sotheby's London, 18 May 2018, lot 458.
高林士（William F. Collins上尉），時任聯華銀公司（Anglo-French China Corporation Ltd）及英國培生集團（S. Pearson & Son）駐北京代理，並為英國Bluett's、John Sparks、Franck & Co 等古董商由北京提供中國古董及藝術品。其後擢升至上校，並被授予傑出服務勳章。有關高林士的具體信息，參見R.Davids與D.Jellinek著，《Provenance》，牛津，2011年，頁124。
桃是中國傳統文化中最為重要的吉祥紋飾之一，在道教語境下寓意長生不老。蓋面隨形開光雕飾五蝠，意指「洪福齊天」，五蝠音同五福，即代表「高壽、康寧、富貴、好德、善終」，搭配壽桃形制，象徵福祿壽三喜兼備。
清乾隆年間，雕漆工藝達到頂峰。同類桃式蓋盒可見馬戛爾尼使團於1792至1794年訪華期間，清乾隆皇帝贈與使團之清乾隆剔紅道教人物故事圖桃形蓋盒一對，收錄於J.Ayers著，《Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen》，倫敦，2016年，頁865，編號1988-1989。
參考一件十八世紀剔紅福壽雙全紋桃式蓋盒，2018年5月18日售於倫敦蘇富比，拍品編號458。
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Qianlong
Qianlong
The covers variously depicting Shoulao and Han Xiangzi, each with two boy attendants, in landscapes of pine, paulownia trees and rockwork, within auspicious motif borders of bats and peaches, all reserved against geometric floral-pattern grounds, the bases decorated with further diaper-patterns. Each 12cm (4 3/4in) long. (4).
清乾隆 剔紅道教人物故事圖桃形蓋盒一對
Provenance:
Captain W.F. Collins (1865-1948), Beijing, who sent the lacquer boxes to Bluett's on 27 February 1926
Bluett & Sons Ltd., London
E. A. Parry (1879-1946), London, acquired from the above on 26 May 1926, and thence by descent
來源：
高林士於1926年2月27日由北京送至倫敦古董商Bluett's
倫敦古董商Bluett & Sons Ltd.
倫敦E. A. Parry（1879-1946）舊藏，於1926年5月26日購自上者，並由後人保存迄今
Captain William Fellows Collins was agent in Peking for the Anglo-French China Corporation Ltd and for S. Pearson & Son, and supplied Bluett's. John Sparks, Franck & Co and other dealers with consignments of Chinese ceramics and works of art from Beijing. He later reached the rank of Colonel and was awarded the DSO. For more information about Collins, see R.Davids and D.Jellinek, Provenance, Oxon, 2011, p.124.
Compare with a similar pair of peach-shaped boxes and covers with Daoist Immortals, Qianlong, which was presented by the Qianlong Emperor to Lord Macartney's Embassy of 1792-1794, illustrated by J.Ayers, Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen, London, 2016, p.865, nos.1988-1989.
The peach is among the most important auspicious symbols in Chinese culture, and vessels made in its form were very much favoured by the Emperors. Peaches became associated with Daoism and symbolised Immortality. According to legend, the Queen Mother of the West grew peaches in an orchard that would bestow Immortality on those who would eat them. Furthermore, the Daoist deity Shoulao, the God of Longevity, is often depicted holding a peach.
See a single related cinnabar lacquer peach box and cover with an Immortal on the cover, 18th century, which was sold at Sotheby's London, 18 May 2018, lot 458.
高林士（William F. Collins上尉），時任聯華銀公司（Anglo-French China Corporation Ltd）及英國培生集團（S. Pearson & Son）駐北京代理，並為英國Bluett's、John Sparks、Franck & Co 等古董商由北京提供中國古董及藝術品。其後擢升至上校，並被授予傑出服務勳章。有關高林士的具體信息，參見R.Davids與D.Jellinek著，《Provenance》，牛津，2011年，頁124。
桃是中國傳統文化中最為重要的吉祥紋飾之一，在道教語境下寓意長生不老。蓋面隨形開光雕飾五蝠，意指「洪福齊天」，五蝠音同五福，即代表「高壽、康寧、富貴、好德、善終」，搭配壽桃形制，象徵福祿壽三喜兼備。
清乾隆年間，雕漆工藝達到頂峰。同類桃式蓋盒可見馬戛爾尼使團於1792至1794年訪華期間，清乾隆皇帝贈與使團之清乾隆剔紅道教人物故事圖桃形蓋盒一對，收錄於J.Ayers著，《Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen》，倫敦，2016年，頁865，編號1988-1989。
參考一件十八世紀剔紅福壽雙全紋桃式蓋盒，2018年5月18日售於倫敦蘇富比，拍品編號458。
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