A PAIR OF FAMILLE NOIRE BALUSTER VASES China, Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Each with flaring sides rising to a gently arched square shoulder with a tall trumpet neck. Boldly enameled in bright shades of aubergine, green, yellow, white, and blue with separate scenes on each of the four sides, showing birds perched amidst blossoming prunus branches, butterflies above chrysanthemums and peonies in bloom growing from weathered rocks and herons in a pond surrounded by large lotus leaves, pods, flowers, and buds as well as water reeds, all reserved on a black ground. The recessed base with an apocryphal underglaze-blue Kangxi reign mark.

Condition: Overall good condition with firing flaws and surface scratches. One vase with a restoration to the lip.
Provenance: Hungarian private collection, according to the current owner acquired in 1980.

Weight: c. 4650 each
Dimensions: Height 51.5 cm each.

Auction result comparison: Compare a pair of related famille noir square vases (50.5 cm high), dated to the 19th century, at Bonhams Edinburgh in Asian Art on 27 March 2013, lot 343, sold for GBP 5,250.