A very rare doucai stemcup mark and period of Yongzheng

delicately painted around the exterior of the slightly flared bowl with the sun rising amongst multi-coloured vaporous billowing clouds, all below a single line border at the rim, the tall hollow ribbed foot encircled by a ruyi band above five forms of the character shou and a double line border, the interior of the foot with an underglaze-blue six-character mark

One of the pair of stemcups sold at Sotheby's London, 9th July 1974, lot 433.
Collection of Roger Lam.
Art Gallery, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 23rd October 2005, lot 461. 

The rim has a small 8mm sliver chip restored. There is a 1mm flake to the foot. The enamels are intact and the overall condition is very good.
"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."

The companion stemcup was sold in these rooms, 24th November 1981, lot 161, and again on 18th November 1986, lot 136.  Formerly in the Collections of T.Y. Chao and later of Ira and Nancy Koger, it was also sold in our New York rooms, 27th November 1990, lot 43, and again at Christie's Hong Kong, 26th April 1999, lot 536.  Compare also a closely related pair of stemcups in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago (accession nos. 1941.687A and B) from the Henry C. Schwab bequest (by repute).

Stemcups of this design are rare although the pattern is related to that found on doucai waterpots of the Yongzheng period, see a pair illustrated in The Tsui Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1991, pl. 112.