The Sanxing, or Three Star Gods, are among the most recognisable figures in Chinese decorative art, and rarely appear alone. Fu brings happiness and good fortune, Lu brings prosperity and status, and Shou, instantly identifiable by his domed forehead and the peach-branch staff he leans on, brings long life. Displayed together, the three cover most of what a household could reasonably wish for.
This set is rendered in dense, bright famille rose enamels over moulded porcelain, each figure dressed in patterned court robes worked in red, turquoise, yellow and pink, with the kind of layered ornamentation that rewards a slow look rather than a glance. Fu carries a ruyi sceptre, Lu holds a child on his arm, and Shou grips his staff and a large peach, the traditional symbol of immortality. Each figure stands on an unglazed base carrying an impressed red seal mark.
Sets like this were produced across the twentieth century for the export and domestic decorative market, and their enduring popularity says as much about the strength of the symbolism as it does about the craftsmanship. Displayed as a trio, they hold their own on a shelf, sideboard or mantelpiece without needing anything else around them.
