A FAMILLE-ROSE 'BIRDS' MOONFLASK Qianlong mark, Republic periodPROPERTY FROM THE FRED LEE AND MAGARET YAO LEE FAMILY COLLECTIONA FAMILLE-ROSE 'BIRDS' MOONFLASKQianlong mark, Republic periodThe flattened circular body supported on a straight foot and rising to a short, columnar neck connected to the shoulder by a pair of arched bamboo-form handles, each of the broad sides dominated by a roundel painted in famille-rose enamels with either ducks amidst peonies and millet or red-crested cranes beneath a pine tree, the sides and neck enameled in blue with an intricate floral scroll, the base enameled with a six-character mark in a line.6 3/8in (16.2cm) high民國時期 粉彩花鳥圖抱月瓶清花 《大清乾隆年制》篆书款Provenance:Collection of Yao Pai Chuen (d. 1973), thence by descentMargaret Yao Lee is the daughter of Mr. Yao Pai Chuen 姚鈞石 (d. 1973) (Mandarin: Yao Junshi). Mr. Yao was a colorful and influential member of Macau society in the 20th century, known for his entrepreneurialism, philanthropy, and appreciation of classical Chinese culture. In the 1930s and 1940s, Yao made his fortune holding the only license granted by the Portuguese government of Macau to legally sell opium. In addition, he formulated and sold a proprietary liniment known as Hundred Flowers Oil (百花油), which could be used for mosquito bites, skin irritations, muscle aches, and other ailments. Yao's prosperity enabled him to acquire a large collection of rare Chinese books and manuscripts, which was originally part of the private library, known as the Nanzhou Shu Lou (南州書樓), assembled by famed Guangzhou scholar Xu Shaoqi (徐紹棨) (1879–1948). Yao added additional volumes to the private library, named it the Puban Collection (蒲坂藏書), and ultimately donated it to the Asian Library at the University of British Columbia.