Lot 018 A PAIR OF FAMILLE-ROSE ‘HUNDRED BUTTERFLIES’ GARDEN STOOLS LATE QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

Description

A PAIR OF FAMILLE-ROSE ‘HUNDRED BUTTERFLIES’ GARDEN STOOLS
LATE QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY
晚清 粉彩“百蝶千卉”纹鼓钉坐墩（一对）
MEASUREMENTS
H. 28.4 cm, 11.2 in.; H. 28.3 cm, 11.2 in.
ESTIMATE
USD 3,000 — 5,000
(HKD 23,400 — 39,000)
DESCRIPTION
The pair of garden stools is of classic drum shape, featuring a flat circular top and a generously rounded body. The exterior is vibrantly decorated in the famille-rose palette with the “Hundred Butterflies” motif, depicting numerous butterflies of various species and sizes in lively flight. The shoulders and base are embellished with rows of raised “drum nail” (bosses) enameled in a soft turquoise blue, which adds a tactile and structural element to the design. Two sides are pierced with interconnected cash (coin) motifs, highlighted in blue enamel, serving as both decoration and functional handles. The top surface continues the butterfly theme, centered around a similar pierced cash motif.
此对坐墩呈鼓式，平顶，弧腹。通体以粉彩绘“百蝶纹”，各种形态的蝴蝶翩翩起舞，色泽绚丽，寓意“福迭”与长寿。墩身装饰两周突起的蓝色釉鼓钉纹，模仿古代皮鼓的结构。腹部两侧设有透雕的钱纹（双钱孔），涂以蓝料，既增加美感又便于搬运。墩面中心同样设有透雕钱纹，周簇蝴蝶。
CATALOGUE NOTE
Garden stools of this type reached their peak of popularity during the mid-to-late 19th century. The “Hundred Butterflies” (baidie) pattern is particularly auspicious; the word for butterfly (die) is a homophone for “seventy to eighty years of age,” thus representing a wish for a long and vibrant life.
The combination of the turquoise-blue bosses and the polychrome butterflies against a clean white glaze reflects the late Qing aesthetic of opulence and meticulous detail. These stools were originally designed for use in garden pavilions or courtyards but later became prized indoor decorative pieces in both Chinese and Western “Chinoiserie” interiors. This pair is notable for its well-preserved enamels and the dynamic variety of the butterfly specimens depicted.
**“百蝶纹”**是晚清瓷器中极为盛行的经典纹饰，因“蝶”与“耄”同音，常寓意长寿、多福。此对坐墩器型丰腴，胎体厚重。
青色鼓钉与五彩斑斓的蝴蝶在莹润的白釉衬托下，展现出晚清时期追求繁缛华丽的审美趣味。墩身的透雕双钱纹（金钱纹）寓意财富连绵。此类凉墩在清代常摆放于庭院、走廊或书房，既可小憩亦是极佳的陈设艺术品。这对拍品彩料保存完好，蝴蝶刻画细腻生动，是研究晚清民俗美学与装饰工艺的精品。
CONDITION REPORT
• Condition: Both stools are in overall very good condition. Expected wear to the base and top surface consistent with functional use. Occasional minor firing cracks near the pierced openings and minor loss to the enamels, which are typical for garden stools of this period.
• 整体品相良好。 底部及顶部见正常使用磨损。透雕处见极细微生产线，局部彩料有微小自然剥落，均属于此类大件器物的正常现象。