A RARE CLOISONNE ENAMEL LEYS JAR QING DYNASTY, JIAQING PERIOD

the low cylindrical vessel, tapering to the wide horizontal everted lip, decorated in colourful enamels with descending red and white bats bearing wan symbols, interspersed with shou symbols, within dense lotus and floral scrolls on a turquoise ground, the interior turquoise, the underside marked tong shun tang (translated as 'Hall of Accordance with the Natural Order' or 'Hall of Togetherness') on a ground of floral scrollwork

The Chinese Porcelain Company, New York.
Acquired from the above by the present owner, 2000.

The piece has wear to the gilding of the metal with a a few scattered minor dings to metal at extremities, and some small scattered enamel pits, typical of the medium, and in otherwise quite good condition.
"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."

Cloisonne leys jars are rare, and there does not appear to be another example of this form published.  The form appears to be based on that of blue and white porcelain basins of the Yongle period, which are themselves based on Islamic metal forms.  An example of Yongle porcelain and of Islamic metalware are illustrated in James C. Y. Watt and Denise Patry Leidy, Defining Yongle: Imperial Art in Early Fifteenth-Century China, East Greenwich, 2005, figs. 9, 10, p. 29. 

The decoration of dense symmetrical scrollwork is related to that found on porcelains of the Qianlong period, such as the doucai meiping offered in our New York rooms, 18th March 2008, lot 152, which has descending bats bearing wan symbols among scrollwork. 

The motif of descending red bats with wan (swastica) symbols suggest a number of auspicious puns, such as hong fu ('vast blessings'), wanfu (ten thousand blessings), and fudao ('blessings have arrived'). The bats, together with shou symbols, convey wishes for blessings and longevity.