Pair of vases; China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century

Pair of vases; China, Qing Dynasty, 19th c.
Enameled porcelain
Some pitting
Some marks on the base
Measurements: 40 x 20 cm; 38 x 20 cm.

Pair of baluster vases made during the late Qing dynasty, 19th century, in cobalt blue glazed porcelain on white ground. The vases are richly decorated with lotuses and tendrils that completely cover the vessel. Among the ornamental motifs is the presence of the symbol of double happiness (shuangxi), composed of the union of two characters xi (joy), traditionally interpreted as a wish for marital happiness and marital bliss.

The shuangxi symbol has historically been linked to rituals and objects associated with Chinese weddings, and has appeared in porcelain decoration since at least the early 19th century. Its enormous popularity seems to have been consolidated around the wedding of Emperor Tongzhi, celebrated in 1872, an event of great historical significance as the first imperial wedding since the reign of Kangxi, more than two centuries earlier.