A RARE COPPER-RED AND UNDERGLAZE BLUE 'THREE ABUNDANCES' VASE, MEIPING
18th century
Well-potted rising from a slightly splayed foot to broad shoulders, well painted in bright cobalt blue tones with 'heaped and piled' effect, the body with alternating flowering and fruiting branches of pomegranate, citron and peach, 'The Three Abundances', all between bands of upright lappets and beneath further pendant plantain-leaf lappets, huanghuali stand. 34cm (13 3/8in) high. (2).
Footnotes:
十八世紀 青花釉裡紅三多紋梅瓶

Provenance: William Clayton Ltd., London, 1 April 1971 (invoice)
John E. Bodie OBE (1930-2023), London, collection no.14

來源：倫敦古董商 William Clayton Ltd.，1971年4月1日（據收據）
大英帝國官佐勳章獲勳人John E. Bodie(1930-2023)，倫敦，藏品編號14

The graceful depiction of branches and fruits adorning this vase evokes designs reminiscent of those found on meiping vases crafted during the Yongle period. Likewise, the subtle utilisation of the blue and white palette emulates the early Ming dynasty's use of imported cobalt blue, rich in iron content, resulting in dark blue spots on the surface, an effect known as the 'heaping and piling' effect.

The vase incorporates numerous symbolic motifs. The inclusion of the Buddha's Hand citron, peaches, and pomegranates collectively referred to as 'The Three Abundances' (sanduo 三多), signifies wishes for prosperity, longevity, and numerous offspring.

See a related blue and white meiping vase, with design of lotus in underglaze-red, Qianlong period, in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (III), Hong Kong, 2000, p.227, no.207.

Compare with a related underglaze copper-red and blue decorated vase, meiping, 18th century, which was sold at Christie's on 11 May 2010, lot 230.
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y
Y Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the UK, see clause 13.

Restoration to the neck/shoulder area with an associated vertical crack, approx 8cm long; firing imperfections and cracks, mainly visible on the base and foot rim, and some small shallow chips to foot rim; hairline crack on the body approx 4cm wide.