Period: Qing Dynasty

Provenance: Private Japanese family collection

Dimensions:

Rim diameter: 13 cm

Base diameter: 22.5 cm

Height: 58 cm

Material: Porcelain

Form: Tianqi (Heavenly Sphere) vase

Inscription:

The base bears a six-character, three-line seal mark in red, reading “Daqing Qianlong Nian Zhi” (Made in the Qianlong reign of the Great Qing).

Description

This vase is a Famille Rose Tianqi vase from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, beautifully painted with the motif of "Nine Peaches". The vase has a slightly flared rim, a straight neck, a rounded and full body, and a ring foot. The entire piece is covered in a smooth white glaze, with decorations both inside and out.

The body of the vase features a peach tree, its strong trunk surrounded by lush green leaves, with nine large, ripe peaches hanging from the branches. The peaches transition in color from tender pink to light rose, rich in hue and brilliantly lifelike. The peaches' mature appearance is painted with exquisite detail, evoking a sense of ripeness and abundance. A cluster of roses is also painted beside the tree, adding depth and complexity to the overall composition.

The motif of nine peaches symbolizes longevity and auspiciousness, as peaches are often associated with the Taoist legend of the “Peach of Immortality.” The base of the vase is also glazed in white, with the signature mark of “Da Qing Qianlong Nian Zhi” in red seal script, indicating it was produced during the Qianlong era.

The Tianqi vase, named for its resemblance to celestial spheres, first appeared during the Ming Dynasty under the Yongle and Xuande periods and gained popularity during the Qing Dynasty, particularly in the Yongzheng and Qianlong reigns. This type of vase was primarily used for decorative purposes, often seen as a centerpiece in palatial and aristocratic settings.

In Qing porcelain, Famille Rose peach motifs are often seen with eight peaches during the Yongzheng period, while the Qianlong period typically features nine peaches, giving rise to the saying “Yongzheng eight, Qianlong nine.” The painting on this vase is elegantly composed, with varying shades of glaze, finely executed and crafted, making it a quintessential example of Qianlong-period Famille Rose porcelain.

Creative Background

During the Qianlong period, Famille Rose porcelain featured a large number of auspicious motifs, many of which drew on natural elements to symbolize good fortune. The hallmark of this era’s porcelain was fine, detailed painting, clear layers, and intricate content. This vase employs the technique of shading to depict ripe peaches, with rich and vibrant colors that successfully capture the delicate hues of mature peaches. The composition is well-balanced, with a dynamic contrast of light and shadow on the leaves and an effect of both old branches and new sprouts on the tree. This vase is a representative example of large-scale Famille Rose porcelain from the Qianlong period.

The motif of Nine Peaches in decorative porcelain became a standard theme in imperial ceramics from the Yongzheng period onward, and was still being replicated during the Guangxu reign. During the Yongzheng period, the nine peaches design appeared on Famille Rose Tianqi vases, Famille Rose olive vases, and Famille Rose dishes with branch patterns. Among all the Famille Rose Nine Peaches porcelain from the Yongzheng, Qianlong, and Guangxu periods, the designs of the Yongzheng period are noted for their bright, varied colors and the highest level of artistic execution.

Biography of Emperor Qianlong

Emperor Qianlong (Aisin Gioro Hongli, 1711–1799) was the sixth emperor of the Qing Dynasty. He is also known by his pen names Changchun Jushi and Xintian Zhuren, and later in life, by his title Gu Xi Tianzi ("The Emperor of the Ancient Age") or Shi Quan Lao Ren ("The Perfect Old Man"). His reign lasted for sixty years, and after abdicating, he continued to exercise political power for another three years, making his total time in control of the empire a record 63 years and 4 months. He is the longest-reigning emperor in Chinese history and also the longest-living emperor.

Emperor Qianlong was deeply passionate about porcelain and made significant contributions to the development of Chinese porcelain art. The porcelain of his reign is highly regarded for both its practicality and aesthetic beauty, making it a treasure of the world. Under his rule, the porcelain-making techniques of the Qing Dynasty reached unprecedented heights, a testament to both the artisans' skills and Qianlong’s relentless pursuit of porcelain artistry.

In addition to supervising porcelain production, Emperor Qianlong was an avid collector of porcelain. Over his lifetime, he composed over 48,000 poems, approximately 300 of which were dedicated to porcelain. These poems were often engraved on porcelain pieces, leaving a lasting legacy. He was particularly fond of Ru ware porcelain, writing poems praising its exquisite craftsmanship. One famous line reads: “The official Ru ware is renowned, and the new bottle is even more exquisite,” underscoring his admiration for the aesthetic and historical significance of Ru ware porcelain.