A PAIR OF GILT BRONZE AND CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL 'SASH-TIED DOUBLE GOURD' VASES

China, circa 1830-1930. The double-gourd-shaped vases finely decorated with colorful blossoms in the mille-fleurs manner, including peonies, chrysanthemums, lotus, and other auspicious flowers. The waists are encircled by a rose-colored sash with floral scrollwork, and the vessels rest on splayed feet. The rims are gilt, with a band of ruyi motifs below the upper rim. (2)

Provenance: The private collection of Jules Speelman, London. Jules Speelman is a world-leading dealer and collector of East Asian art with 60 years of experience. In 1964 he joined his late father, Alfred, in the family business which already stretched back three generations to 19th century Holland and expanded into England around the turn of the century. Originally, A & J Speelman dealt with antiques, from European ceramics, silver, tapestries, and furniture to Chinese porcelain, and works of art. With his father, Jules gradually shifted the focus towards Asia and under Jules Speelman's skilled direction, A & J Speelman is now considered amongst the foremost dealers in Asian antiques, with a particular emphasis on figurative sculpture and works of art from the past 2000 years.
Condition: Good condition with minor wear and manufacturing irregularities, including areas of fine crackle and expected pitting to enamels with associated old fills. Little rubbing to gilt, few light dents and minute nicks, shallow surface scratches.

Weight: 2 kg and 1.9 kg
Dimensions: Height 34.7 cm (each)

The recessed bases each incised with an apocryphal four-character mark Qianlong nianzhi.

The bodies are decorated at the center with large blossoms such as peonies, complemented by motifs of magnolia, crabapple, lotus, dianthus, morning glory, and other flowers. This type of all-over floral decoration is known as baihua bu luodi (a hundred flowers without leaving ground), a technique commonly seen on famille-rose porcelains but relatively rare on enamel wares.

The gourd-shaped bodies, the sash tied at the waist, and the profusion of floral motifs each carry distinct auspicious meanings: the gourd (hulu) is a homophone for fulu (blessings and emoluments), symbolizing the attainment of both. The bow-shaped sash, known as baofu (bundle), echoes the phrase 'to gather blessings', signifying the preservation of good fortune, and the hundred-flower motif, with blossoms clustered and flourishing in abundance, conveys the auspicious idea of 'a hundred flowers offering felicity'.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related cloisonné enamel double gourd vase, dated to the mid-Qing dynasty, in the Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby's London, 17 May 2023, lot 174
Price: GBP 40,640 or approx. EUR 51,500 (for one) converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large cloisonné enamel double-gourd vase, 20th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, sash-tied design, and decoration. Note the larger size (99.5 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 15 March 2017, lot 733
Price: USD 25,000 or approx. EUR 28,000 (for one) converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A cloisonne enamel double-gourd 'peony' vase, Qing dynasty, 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the related double-gourd form, enameled decoration, and floral design.

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