A turquoise-ground famille-rose bottle vase, Seal mark and period of Qianlong | 清乾隆 松綠地粉彩描金纏枝花卉福壽紋長頸瓶 《大清乾隆年製》款

The Qianlong Emperor’s (r. 1736-1795) penchant for porcelain wares that simulated other materials is evident in the decoration of this vase whose colour scheme and design imitates cloisonné enamel works. The painter of this piece has ingeniously recreated the effect of raised gilt wires, by outlining the different elements of the design in gold.

This vase shares similarities with a slightly smaller turquoise-ground vase with handles formerly in the collections of W.W. Winkworth and Robert Chang, and the Meiyintang Collection, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th April 2013, lot 3052; another example sold at Christie’s South Kensington, 11th November 2011, lot 1489. See also a slightly larger vase of this type sold at Christie’s London, 14th - 17th June 1985, lot 482.