A pair of double fish pale green Chinese celadon porcelain vases with French mounts, in the form of a pair of conjoined carp (one of the Eight Buddhist Emblems) rising from waves, with open double mouth and small foot, the dorsal fins forming a pair of side handles. Mounted on an oval quatrefoil gilt bronze stand with gadrooned edge, raised on an oval base, with milled sides and four ball feet.

They were possibly acquired by the Prince Regent from the dealer Robert Fogg in 1818. The present pair (or possibly RCIN 360.1-2) could be those mentioned in Fogg’s invoice for the period ending 10 October 1818 as ‘2 do. [Chinese vases Sea Green Ground] Fish do. [richly mounted in Ormolu]’ (National Archives LC 11/26), at a total cost of £120, including three other pieces. The upper plinth is of a type seen frequently on mounted porcelain, and dates from the early eighteenth century. The lower plinth may date from the late eighteenth century, or was perhaps added in England by Fogg.

The monochrome grey-green celadon glaze which had been a staple of the Longquan kilns for centuries during the Ming period and earlier was taken up by the porcelain factories of Jingdezhen in the seventeenth century; and from the reign of Kangxi (1662–1722) onwards, wares of distinction were made in this style, frequently with reticent incised decoration. They were among those which the marchand-merciers of Paris most often sought out for mounting in gilt bronze, and many fine examples of their art, together with that of English bronze makers, displayed to effect at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, were brought together by George IV.

Text adapted from Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen: Volume II.