China, Qing, 18th century (note apocryphal Qianlong period seals)Dimensions: 62 1/4"(158 cm) L, 38"(97cm) L Watercolor on Silk, FramedThe theme of 'one hundred deer' appears to be an innovation of the Wanlireign, and carries numero apicio messages. Traditionally the deer is an emblem of immortality in China, believed to live to a very great age. The animal successfully foraged for lingzhi and was believed to store the fung's power within its antlers, which then became prized for their medicinal e. The deer is also associated with official salary, as the two words are homophono, hence images of 'one hundred deer' are representative of 'one hundred promotions.In addition to its apicio messages, the scene on this jar, which continues around the whole vessel as if on a handscroll, may also be of the imperial gardens or hunting parks where deer and other exotic animals were known to reside. Ming emperors spent much time in the imperial Western Park, adjacent to the Forbidden City, which had been reconstructed at the beginning of the Ming dynasty and renovated to resemble an immortal land under the direction of the Jiajing Emperor, who moved there in 1542.百鹿圖應始創於萬曆年間。鹿在古代寓意豐富·例如象徵長壽·被奉為千歲瑞獸:野生林鹿以靈芝為食，古人即認為鹿角集靈芝精華·視為入蔡珍品。鹿音同「祿」，故百鹿又象徵「百祿」。本图像蘊涵多重吉祥寓意，佈局呈通景式·場景或仿自御苑或皇家獵場，故有野鹿等珍禽異默棲居。明時有皇家園林西苑·近紫禁皇城，修於明初·歷朝多位皇帝常游幸於此:明中葉後·嘉靖皇帝翻修西苑樓殿，大興祀典需醮·修道煉仙等玄事，更於二十一年遷入·稱為西內。绢本百鹿图 或为明末清初正中印：世宗玉玺左侧底收藏印一：吴宽右上角印：三希堂精鉴玺Provenance: Important Canadian Family来源：加拿大重要家族旧藏