Pair of two "Double happiness" vases; China, late 19th century.

Pair of two vases "Double happiness;" China, late 19th century.
Porcelain.
Measurements: 60 x 24 cm (x2)...
This pair of white and blue porcelain vases, known as "Double happiness, made in China at the end of the 19th century, is part of the long and prestigious tradition of blue on white porcelain, one of the most emblematic ceramic languages of Chinese art.
Blue and white porcelain originated in the Yuan dynasty (13th-14th centuries), when imported cobalt oxide began to be used to decorate pieces before firing under a transparent glaze. Its full development took place during the Ming and Qing dynasties, becoming an enduring model that, by the nineteenth century.
The decoration is organized in vertical registers dominated by the motif known as "double happiness" (double happiness), a traditional symbol of conjugal union, harmony and prosperity, especially associated with marriage celebrations. This emblem is repeated rhythmically on a background of finely traced vegetal scrolls, creating a visual contrast between the geometry of the central sign and the fluidity of the vegetal ornament.