A BLUE AND WHITE 'BAJIXIANG' EWER AND COVER, HE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

finely potted in archaistic he form, the compressed globular body rising to a gently curved neck, set to one side with an upright spout tapering to the tip, and to the other a 'C'-shaped handle, supported on four cylindrical legs, the sides painted in vivid tones of underglaze-blue enhanced by simulated 'heaping and piling' with the bajixiang amid luxuriant lotus flowers, the neck, handle, spout and legs decorated with continuous lingzhi scrolls, the domed cover similarly decorated with scrolling lingzhi and surmounted by a loop knop, the underside inscribed with the six-character seal mark in underglaze-blue 

The ewer and cover are in very good condition with only a few minor burst air bubbles along the handle, the feet, and rim. The mouth has a minute glaze flake to the tip. The cover has a 3mm burst air bubble on the top of the finial and minor rim frits along the underside of the edge of the cover. The actual colour of the blue is about 5% less purple.
"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 covered he form is derived from a Zhou, rather than a Shang dynasty archaic bronze prototype.  Julian Thompson notes in Chinese Porcelain: The S. C. Ko Tianmianlou Collection, Hong Kong, 1987, that these vessels were produced in the Qing dynasty to imitate the Zhou dynasty prototype, due to the imperial court's predilection for ancient objects.  Excavations shows that the he was used as a vessel for diluting wine, although such Qing imitations were most likely used for decorative, rather than practical purposes.

An example of a covered he of this design with a Qianlong seal mark is illustrated in Porcelain of the National Palace Museum, Blue and White Ware of the Ch'ing Dynasty, Book II, Taipei, 1968, pl.21a-21d; another from the Tianjin Art Museum, was included in the exhibition, Imperial China. The Living Past, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1992, cat.no.94; and a third from Norbulingka, Lhasa, Tibet, was included in the exhibition Gems of China's Cultural Relics, Palace Museum, Beijing, cat.no.46.