150 - A rare Famille Rose porcelain cup with enamel decoration depicting the Baxijiang (the eight auspicious Buddhist emblems). The central section is adorned with a medallion featuring a stylized scroll motif, encircled by a double gold border.

A rare Famille Rose porcelain cup with enamel decoration depicting the Baxijiang (the eight auspicious Buddhist emblems). The central section is adorned with a medallion featuring a stylized scroll motif, encircled by a double gold border. Four-character mark in iron-red on the underside of the base: 慎德堂製 “Shèn dé táng zhì,” meaning “Made for the Hall of Prudent Virtue.” China, Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), 19th century. Diameter: 16.2 cm. (Chips along the rim, small cracks, and wear). Porcelain pieces bearing the mark 慎 德 堂 製 “Shèn dé táng zhì” were, during the reign of Daoguang, specifically intended for the Emperor’s use within the pavilion of the same name. The Shendetang, or “Palace of Prudent Virtue,” was the monarch’s primary residence, located within the Yuanming Yuan, the Old Summer Palace. Completed in 1831, it was there that he managed most of the affairs of state until his death in 1850. The fame of these prestigious porcelain pieces was such that the mark was reused as a tribute beginning in the reign of Guangxu (1875–1908). This meticulously crafted four-character mark, found on a small bowl decorated with the eight auspicious Buddhist emblems, is extremely rare. A piece bearing an identical mark, combined with an exterior decoration featuring the Baxijiang motifs, is currently held in the collections of the Palace Museum under inventory number 新 00087759 Expert: Bastien LARNAUD