AN EXTREMELY RARE PINK SGRAFFIATO-GROUND 'FAMILLE-ROSE' VASE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

THIS IS A PREMIUM LOT. CLIENTS WHO WISH TO BID ON PREMIUM LOTS ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE THE PREMIUM LOT PRE-REGISTRATION 3 WORKING DAYS PRIOR TO THE SALE.



the finely potted ovoid body supported on a splayed foot, tapering gracefully to a tall waisted neck flanked by a pair of archaistic dragon handles below a flared mouth, delicately enamelled with four large formal lotus blooms surrounded by multi-coloured billowing cloud swirls and iron-red bats, all amid futher lotus blooms borne on dense meandering leafy and budding stems, set between interlinking ruyi heads at the shoulder and upright lappets at the base, the neck similarly decorated with lotus scrolls between a band of upright lappets at the shoulder and interlinking ruyi heads at the mouth, the foot with further lotus scrolls, the decoration all reserved on a soft pink sgraffiato ground, the interior and base turquoise, with a central square on the base reserved in white for the six-character mark in iron-red      

Christie's New York, 21st March 2001, lot 280.

There is minor expected rubbing to the gilt on the mouthrim. There are small scattered losses to the pink-sgraffiato, which have been retouched. Otherwise the vase is in very good condition overall. The enamels have been fired to a particularly high standard. The colours are slightly softer than the illustration suggests.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

With its elegant proportions, rich spectrum of enamels and impeccable craftsmanship this vase is among the finest and most impressive pieces of Qianlong porcelain. It appers to be one of a pair, the companion vase from the Fonthill Heirlooms formed by Alfred Morrison during the nineteenth century, was sold in our London rooms, 18th October 1971, lot 70, and again in these rooms, 21st May 1985, lot 35. No other piece of this form and design appears to be recorded.

The complicated and laborious technique here employed, where the design is reserved on a monochrome enamel ground which itself is structured by needle-point etching of endless scrolling fronds, was developed in the Qianlong period. It was more often restricted to smaller, subsidiary design borders rather than being used to cover the whole vessel, since evenness of the enamel colour must have been very difficult to achieve over a larger surface. It was a technique that was mainly used for decorating very special pieces, such as the revolving vase in the Shanghai Museum that involved high technical ability combined with impeccable crafsmanship for its design. The central body of the Shanghai Museum vase is decorated with lotus scroll design in the famille -rose enamels on a blue-ground which is engraved with a dense scrollwork. This vase was included in the Exhibition of Ceramics throughout China's History from the Shanghai Museum, Seibu Art Museum, Tokyo, 1984, cat.no. 98.

For another example of the sgraffiato technique used for the main field of decoration see a meiping, also from the collection of Alfred Morrison, illustrated in numerous publications including Sotheby's Thirty Years in Hong Kong: 1973-2003, Hong Kong, 2003, pl. 337, last sold in these rooms, 31st October 2004, lot 131.