Two pairs of famille rose 'deer and lingzhi' cups and saucers

The interior of each dish and the exterior of each cup is decorated with a deer holding a branch of lingzhi in its mouth below a monkey sitting in a pine tree amongst a bee and two magpies in flight. The base with an apocryphal Xianfeng mark.

Catalogue notes: the present lot is ripe with auspicious meanings: the imagery of deer and lingzhi fungus both have associations with longevity, the depiction of a bee and a monkey form the homophone for 'fenghou' which means, 'may you reach the title of marquis', and magpies are traditionally associated with joy. All of these elements together form the rebus 'juelu fenghou' which may be translated as 'may you receive a high rank and official salary'.

Condition: one cup with a fine hairline to the rim (approx. 0.7 cm.); all with very tiny chips to the feet.