A RARE PAIR OF PORCELAIN MODELS OF DEER Qianlong (2)A RARE PAIR OF PORCELAIN MODELS OF DEERQianlongEach gracefully modelled standing four-square with their heads tilted in calm and gentle expressions slightly to the side, with pricked ears behind curved and branched antlers above almond-shaped eyes, naturalistically decorated with spotted yellow fur, the meticulously painted hairs further detailed with white down on the breast, the hooves enamelled black, fitted wood stands. 28cm (11in) high. (2).清乾隆 粉彩鹿形擺件一對Provenance: a British private collection, with the family prior to 1917, and thence by descent來源：英國私人收藏，由家族成員在1917年前獲得，並由後人保存迄今Deer have long been a symbol of longevity, wealth, and grace in traditional Chinese culture, since the character for deer (lu 鹿) is a homophone for emoluments (lu 祿). Deer are also frequently depicted beside Shoulao, the God of Longevity, and have thus come to represent longevity too.Due to the recurring difficulties in creating porcelain animals standing on four thin legs, deer were normally modelled in seated or recumbent positions. Far fewer free-standing versions of porcelain deer appear to be preserved. See, for example, two larger porcelain models of deer, circa 1750 and 18th/early 19th century, in the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem MA, illustrated by W.R.Sargent, The Copeland Collection. Chinese and Japanese Ceramic Figures, Salem MA, 1991, nos.72 and 104.It has been suggested that porcelain models of deer and cranes, were intended for for the Imperial Court rather than for export. Fragments of discarded porcelain models of deer still unpainted, have been found at the Qing Imperial kiln sites at Jingdezhen, see Wang Guangyao, 'Cong Gugong cang Qingdai zhi ci guanyang kan Zhongguo gudai guanyang zhidu. Qingdai yuyaochang yanjiu zhi er', Gugong Bowuyuan yuankan/Palace Museum Journal, no.6, 2006, p.19, fig.15 (fig.2).Compare with a related model of a standing deer, Qianlong, which was sold at Sotheby's London, 12 May 2021, lot 55. See also a related but smaller porcelain model of a recumbent stag, Qianlong, which was sold at Christie's New York, 23 October 2022, lot 596.public_sentiment_keywords: AnYangis_parse: 20230413image: yuzhan_bonhams_item/51930691.jpgsold_price_type: £