A LARGE AND FINELY PAINTED FAMILLE-ROSE NINE-PEACH VASE, TIANQIUPING
Late Qing dynasty, Qianlong mark
Sturdily potted with a large globular body surmounted by a tapering cylindrical neck, decorated around the exterior with gnarled branches laden with 'nine peaches', set among by pink blossoming Chinese roses, yueji, all rising from the narrow foot enclosing a six-character mark in underglaze blue.
19 1/2in (49.5cm) high
Footnotes:
清晚期 粉彩九桃天球瓶 青花《大清乾隆年製》三行篆書款

This is a very ably painted example of late Qing output in the manner of the great Imperial vases of the Qianlong era. The name tianqiuping (literally 'heavenly orb vase') comes from the shape which appeared like a celestial planet. This shape began in the Yongle and Xuande periods, perhaps inspired by Islamic copper or glass prototypes of the Middle East, but was revived during the Yongzheng and Qianlong reigns. Most later copies were based on vases from this period, and the most convincing were made in the Guangxu reign.

In the Yongzheng period, similar vases were always decorated with eight peaches, while in the Qianlong period they were decorated with nine peaches, a propitious number symbolizing eternality and longevity. For another bottle vase, tianqiuping, of large size, see Bonhams, London, 12 November 2015, lot 150. For another late example of a nine-peach vase, see Christie's London, November 11th, 2015, lot 835.