A pair of Chinese porcelain 'magpies and plum blossom' bowls, Jiaqing mark but Tongzhi period, painted in famille rose enamels with twelve magpies amidst flowering plum blossom sprays on a yellow ground, iron-red four character marks to base, 14cm diameter, 6.5cm high, on carved and pierced hardwood standsNotes: Twelve different versions of this design were produced in huge numbers for the wedding of the Tongzhi emperor.The combination of magpies amidst plum blossoms alludes to the rebus sixi shangmei (four magpies settle on the branches of the plum tree) and represents the wish for 'may four-fold joy shine on you'.Provenance: Private English collection, acquired from William Beatty, a Protestant missionary in Beijing in the 19th century, then by descent

Slight wear, generally in good condition