Jar with 17th Century late Ming Transitional Wucai, or 'Red Green' decoration of the Three Abundances. From top to bottom Peach, Buddha's hand/Finger citron and Pomegranate. Height of jar 15,5 cm.
Photo: J E Nilsson Coll.
The Three Abundances also known as the Three Plentys or Three Lucky Fruits are known in Chinese as san duo.
The design consists of a Buddha's hand citron fo shou; Peach and Pomegranate, symbolizing the message of 'good fortune, longevity and many sons' because the first syllable of fo shou is a pun on 'Fu' meaning good luck. The peach is a symbol of longevity and the pomegranate with its many seeds stands for many sons.
This auspicious theme occurs in underglaze blue and white and on wares with overglaze famille rose fen cai enamel decorations during the Qing dynasty. The san duo theme is also found in wucai or Red and Green on the lower third of many 'Gu' trumpet shaped beaker vases of the Late Ming and Transitional period during the mid 17th century.
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