A PAIR OF GILT-DECORATED 'IMITATION LACQUER' WALL VASES
Each vase is of double-gourd form with two characters, da ji (great auspiciousness), surrounded by the bajixiang in gilding amidst lotus scroll divided by a bat and ribbon at the waist, all reserved on diaper ground. The vases are set into stands that have a similar lotus scroll pattern to that of the vases. The bases are impressed with apocryphal Qianlong marks.
10 5/8 in. (27 cm.) high (2)

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Lot Essay

The decoration on the present pair of wall vases encompasses numerous auspicious symbols. The double-gourd is associated with Daoism, as it is the attribute of the immortal Li Tieguai; it is also symbolic of prosperity and abundance, and in particular, an abundance of male children. This theme of abundance is reinforced by the characters, da ji, 'great auspiciousness', inscribed in the gourd.

The vases also feature the bajixiang, the eight auspicious Buddhist emblems, perhaps the most readily identifiable of the symbols found in Buddhist iconography. The bajixiang represent the offerings made to the Buddha Shakyamuni by the gods immediately after his enlightenment. These emblems can be briefly translated as follows: The Wheel of Law (falun), the Conch Shell (luo), the Umbrella (san), the Canopy (gai), the lotus (hua), the Vase (ping), the Paired Fish (shuangyu), and the Endless Knot (jie).