AN UNUSUAL CHAMPLEVE ENAMEL GARLIC-HEAD 'DRAGON' VASE QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

the pear-shaped bottle-form vase with waisted neck encircled by a ring, the faceted and lobed 'garlic-head' below a waisted mouth with straight everted lip, all on a spreading stepped foot, the body and top of the foot decorated with dense lotus scrolls in colourful champlevé enamels against a semi-matte gilt ground, the neck with a band of leiwen, the lip with dots, the edge of the foot with thin borders of scrollwork and rings, the neck and body encircled by a gilded chilong

Christie's Hong Kong, 29th April 2001, lot 606.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 11th April 2008, lot 2804.

The vase is in overall good condition, except for some scattered minor casting flaws to the metal, and moderate typical wear to the gilding. There are also some occasional minor flakes to the enamel, and a few scattered minor dings to the extremities of the metal.
"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."

Champlevé vases of this form and decoration are extremely rare.  No other examples appear to be published.  A cloisonné vase of identical form and similar lotus scroll decoration and borders, without an applied dragon, was sold in our New York rooms 24th October 1980, lot 145. 

The form of the present vase is closely related to bronze bottle-vases with garlic-mouth and entwined dragon around the neck attributed to the 17th / 18th century, such as those illustrated in Rose Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes, London, 1990, pl. 29, p. 42.  A similar bronze vase from the Collection of Heber R. Bishop, with garlic-mouth, ring around the neck and encircled by a dragon, attributed to the Qianlong period, and exhibited at the National Academy of Design, New York, in 1893, was sold at The American Art Galleries, New York, 17th-27th January 1906, lot 2024. 

While the technique, palatte, and ornamentation of the present vase are distinctly Qing, the form of the vase and use of stylised dragon are clear references to 'antique' antecedants, in keeping with decorative trends of the late 18th century, which often melded the past and the present in a highly decorative synthesis.