19th - early 20th century

Covered Vase

This vase, inspired in form by an ancient bronze, is unusual in that it has both Arabic and Chinese inscriptions. The Chinese phrase for “life everlasting” appears in a cartouche on either side of the Arabic inscription that pays tribute to the power of Allah. On the lip is the Chinese word Yudetang, which translates to “Hall of Bathing in Virtue.” Legend has it that the hall—located in the Forbidden City—was a Turkish-style bath built for the Qianlong emperor’s favorite Uighur concubine, who was captured when Chinese troops defeated her people as part of the empire’s plan to expand Qing territory. The Uighurs are a Muslim ethnic group located in the northwest part of China in today’s Xinjiang province, which explains the combination of Arabic and Chinese on this piece.