A RARE 'FAMILLE-ROSE' RETICULATED REVOLVING VASE QIANLONG SEAL MARK AND PERIOD

the pear-shaped revolving body painted with formal lotus scrolls reserved on a pale-blue sgraffiato ground, further reticulated with four evenly spaced gilt-rimmed medallions, each containing a puce-enameled dragon writhing amidst scrolling green clouds, all below a yellow-ground waisted neck painted with alternating bats and lotus flowers below a raised ring and a band of upright lappets beneath the keyfret bordered mouthrim, the angular shoulder further encircled by blue and orange wan-symbols border, all supported on a similarly decorated waisted foot, the inner cylindrical body painted with the wufu flying amidst tall bamboo and flowering camellia wreathed in clouds  

There is restoration to the upper part (shoulder and neck) of the vase. The neck section is entirely overpainted in the interior and partially overpainted on the exterior. The restoration is most apparent in a V-shaped area 1/2 in. by 1/2 in. from which extends a hair crack running down to the raised T-pattern band (just visible on the interior). There is restoration along a 3 in. by 1 in. V-shaped section, which appears to have been broken out and restored back in, and there is a further 1/2 in. by 1/2 in. V-shaped area of restoration on the rim. The shoulder is extensively oversprayed and is impossible to be certain of the extent of the original damage. There is one hair crack visible which runs for approximately 2 in. around the shoulder 1/2 in. up from the rim and there is a 1 in. by 1/2 in. V-shaped area of restoration that possibly covers a repaired section and several other areas of restoration mostly visible in the yellow ground. The center pierced section and the foot appear to be in good condition as does the central painted section. Although, there is some spray visible on the interior of the center section possibly covering minor restoration. When this vase was offered at Sotheby's London in 2002 the catalogue included a photograph of the interior section. Subsequent to photography the shoulder section was professionally reattached to the center section where it had come apart along its originally bonded join.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Technical innovation and finesse in porcelain production were both expected and encouraged during the Qianlong emperor's reign. Therefore it is not surprising that revolving vases appear to have been introduced during this time, under the supervision of Tang Ying, the ingenious supervisor of the imperial factory, who raised the standard of Jingdezhen porcelain to its highest level. Revolving vases such as the present lot are amongst the most complicated porcelain produced in Jingdezhen and would have been the perfect demonstration of the technical virtuosity of the craftsmen at Jingdezhen.

Revolving vases can be found in several important collections, including one with a very similar design but of a slightly different form in the Palace Museum collection, illustrated in The Complete Works of Chinese Ceramics, Shanghai, 2000, pl. 23. See also a blue-ground revolving vase from the National Palace Museum featuring pink dragons and illustrated in Stunning Decorative Porcelain from the Ch'ien-lung Reign, Taipei, 2008, no. 77.