of ovoid shape with cupped neck, the dragon and lingzhi shoulder handles flanked by a ruby ground lotus and floral shoulder pattern, the main body with song birds amongst fruiting pomegranates, seal mark 31cm highProvenance:From a London collector The Jiaqing Emperor was the fifth emperor of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911/12). During his reign (1796-1820), claimed upon the abdication of his father Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1735-1796), he attempted to restore the deteriorating state of the empire and ban the importation of opium into China. However, he was an indecisive leader and with power remaining in the hands of his father’s corrupt court official, Heshen, many of his duties were merely ceremonial. In the later part of his reign, he attempted to refill the treasury after rampant corruption and to some extent was successful, but this did not quell the government’s ineffectiveness.The overall composition of the vase is characteristic of the Jiaqing period. Designs tended to have stylised wandering vines or fruit trees based on a white background, paired with symbolic and auspicious animals creating a strong, intricate aesthetic. Individual elements depicted on this vase have been chosen for their auspicious significance. The pomegranate, a fruit brimming with seeds, represents fertility, familial happiness and the wish for many children and it was also used as a fertility treatment. The cupped neck is flanked by the shoulder handles symbolising the traditional good luck and strength through the dragon motif - and longevity and health in the lingzhi.The lingzhi is one of the most auspicious motifs - alongside being a talisman for luck in traditional Chinese culture, Guanyin, the goddess of healing, is sometimes depicted holding the lingzhi fungus. The name, directly translated, means 'divine branch’ and is usually identified with the fruiting body of the fungi, part of the Polyporacae family. The fungus was common in southern China, but more rare in northern regions. The fungus was believed to grow near the homes of immortals, adding to the reputation of conveyors of longevity and when a worthy ruler was on the throne. The composition illustrates the overall theme of wellness and fruitfulness. This, tied in with the pair of songbirds, suggests that it may have been given as a gift for the occasion of a marriage.