Pair of vases; China, Qing dynasty, 19th century.

Pair of vases; China, Qing dynasty, nineteenth century.
Hand-painted Canton porcelain and wooden bases.
It has slight flaking at the mouths.
Measurements: 44 x 22 cm; 6 x 20 cm (stand).
Pair of porcelain vases with elongated globular body, straight neck and slightly curved rim, seated on turned wooden bases. Both pieces share a symmetrical composition and an exuberant polychrome decoration characteristic of Famille Rose porcelain, recognizable by the softness of the pink, green and gold tones that predominate on their surface.
The pictorial ornamentation is organized in narrative registers separated by decorative frames of golden scrolls and floral garlands. The main panels depict courtly scenes: male and female figures dressed in traditional costumes participate in domestic or social activities within architectural spaces defined by columns, curtains and balustrades. These representations reveal not only the technical mastery of the artisans, but also the intention to reflect an ideal of refinement and harmony typical of the Confucian imaginary of the time.
Interspersed among the figurative panels are floral and zoomorphic motifs - birds, butterflies and peony flowers, traditional symbols of prosperity, longevity and beauty. The application of gilding in relief on the neck and the handles modeled in the form of stylized dragons accentuates the ornamental and sumptuous character of the whole, evoking the eclectic taste of Cantonese porcelain production during the 19th century, intended both for local consumption and for export to the West.