68 - Pair of trumpet-shaped vases; China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century.

Pair of trumpet-shaped vases; China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century. Glazed porcelain. Pink family. With gilded bronze French mounts. Measurements: 28 x 13 x 14 cm (x2). An elegant pair of Chinese porcelain trumpet vases, decorated with polychrome glazes in the “Pink Family” style, featuring predominantly pink, red, green, and blue tones. The ornamentation, arranged around large peonies and rocaille elements, stands out for its rich color palette and its inspiration drawn from the traditional Chinese floral repertoire. The peony, known as the “queen of flowers” in Chinese culture, symbolizes wealth, prosperity, and nobility, and is one of the most prized motifs in export ceramic decoration. The “pink family,” characterized by the use of opaque glazes and delicate color gradations, underwent significant development during the Qing Dynasty, especially from the 18th century onward. Its decorative versatility contributed to its widespread popularity both in the Chinese market and in trade with Europe, where these porcelain pieces sparked particular interest among collectors and enthusiasts of Asian decorative arts.The incorporation of French gilded bronze mounts, chiseled with ornamental motifs inspired by the Rococo and classical styles, transforms the pieces into hybrid objects, the result of the encounter between Chinese ceramic tradition and European decorative taste. This practice, widely documented in European aristocratic collections, allowed the porcelain to be enhanced with metal mountings that added a touch of sumptuousness and adapted the objects to Western interiors.