The Qianlong Reign dates between 1736 and 1795 and falls within the Qing Dynasty. The Qianlong Emperor (25 September 1711 – 7 February 1799) was the sixth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. Reference: Wikipedia
Below are some examples of antiques depicting butterflies from the Qianlong period including two carved lacquer boxes and a butterfly and melon bowl.
Two boxes ( with lids). Fruit,flowers and butterflies. Made of carved lacquer (red). Qing dynasty Qianlong (reign)
Reference: The British Museum
A FINELY CARVED SPINACH-GREEN JADE ‘MARRIAGE BOWL’ QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795) The large bowl is skillfully carved with rounded sides rising from five shallow lobed feet. The thick sides are carved to the exterior in high-relief with large chrysanthemum blossoms and leafy tendrils. The bowl is flanked with two inticately carved butterfly handles suspending a loose ring, the outstretched wings and long curling antennae spanning the flattened slightly everted rim. The centre of the interior is similarly decorated with a single chrysanthemum spray with large meandering leaves. The stone is of a dark spinach-green tone with white and grey inclusions. 10 5/8 in. (27 cm.) wide across handles, hongmu and padauk stand
Sold for GBP 62,500 at Christie’s in 2019
Chinese Enameled Porcelain Snuff Bottle Qing Dynasty The rounded rectangular form, raised on a low oval foot rim, painted with a continuous scene depicting a lady seated in an outdoor garden terrace amongst stylized rockwork, flowers blooms and butterflies, the reverse with a lady in an interior gazing out of a round window, flanked by two carved fixed mask and ring handles at each side, the base with a four-character Qianlong mark. Height 2 1/8 inches.
Scattered iron spots and pinholes, wear to enamel, wear to gilding, sma;ll chips to foot rim, one side has an uneven surface almost like a dent.
Sold for $750 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2019
A CHINESE FAMILLE ROSE ‘BUTTERFLY AND MELON’ BOWL
The exterior of the bowl and cover are finely decorated with butterflies in flight amongst dense leafy vines bearing melons. The base is glazed turquoise around an apocryphal Qianlong mark. Origin: China Period: 19th century Sizes: 8.50 cm. H x 10.50 cm. diameter 3.35 in. H x 4.13 in. diameter
Sold for €10,000 at Oriental Art Auctions in 2020
A white jade ‘cat and butterfly’ group Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period the small pebble of even milky-white color carved to depict a reclining cat curled around with its paws neatly tucked beneath its head, its large eyes gazing out as a smaller kitten clambers up onto its back and reaches out its paws towards a pair of butterflies
Sold for 4,800 USD at Sotheby’s in 2005
Vase of porcelain painted with enamels, 1736-1795, Qianlong period, Chinese
The sumptuous style of this vase is replicated on pieces in both the Beijing and Taiwan Palace collections, and would appear to have found favour at court in Qianlong’s reign (1736-1795). The detailed and naturalistic painting of flowers and butterflies is set against a thick ruby-red enamel, while the jewel-like borders around the neck and above the foot are highlighted to simulate shining gems, with touches of gilding. The decoration suggests the influence of enamel-painted copper, manufactured in the palace enamelling workshop until 1789.
The main ground is enamelled in purplish-crimson with a scratched lattice pattern and against this are set finely-painted iris and other flowers in ‘famille rose’ colours. the formal colours above and below are on a ground of yellow. A pale turquoise enamel appears inside the lip and on the base. This style of decoration, described as ‘on a graviata ground’ in early 20th century English art books, are referred to as ‘ci tai yang cai jin shang tian hua’ in palace records. They were made between 1741 and 1743.
Reference: Victoria and Albert Museum
