A FINE AND RARE CLOISONNE ENAMEL MOONFLASK QIANLONG MARK AND PERIOD

the flattened oval body rising from a slightly flared high foot, to the lobed garlic neck, decorated to each face with Indian lotus strapwork on a turquoise ground, below a panel of lappets and ascending leaves at the shoulder, below a band of scrolling flower heads to the neck 

From a private European collection acquired in the 1980's.

This fine moonflask is in very good overall condition with the exception of some restoration to enamels: a 1.5cm., diam., and 3.5 x 2cm., area to the upper side of one end; a 2.5 x 2cm., and a 3.5 x 2cm section to the opposite middle and lower side; a 1cm., diam area to the shoulder; light rubbing to the gilded decoration and characteristic light enamel shrinkage and pitting.
"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."

It is rare to find Qianlong cloisonné enamel flasks of this circular form with a garlic-bulb shape mouth and the present piece appears to be the only example of its kind recorded. The type is known from flasks of similar shape but with handles applied to the neck; such as the flask, in the Phoenix art Museum, illustrated in Chinese Cloisonne. The Clague Collection, Phoenix, 1980, pl. 46, decorated with the motif of flowers and rocks and with two dragon-form handles; and the flask, from the Pierre Uldry collection, published in Helmut Brinker and Albert Lutz, Chinesisches Cloisonne Die Sammlung Pierre Uldry, Zurich, 1985, pl. 229, with a dragon design on the body and scroll handles applied to the neck. An earlier, Ming period, cloisonné enamel flask of this type with jade inlay and phoenix handles, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is published in Masterpieces of Chinese Enamel Ware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1971, pl. 12.

The present flask is also comparable with Qianlong period flasks of broader flattened globular form with similar garlic-bulb form mouth and splayed foot and the shoulders with double stylised phoenix-head handles. For example see a flask decorated with the design of passionflowers, bats and clouds and with a four-character Qianlong reign mark incised on its base, from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 102, together with another comparable flask, pl. 101. A flask of this type from the Fonthill Heirlooms collection which was formed by Alfred Morrison and the Rt. Hon. Lord Margadale of Islay, was sold at Christie's London, 18^th October 1971, lot 113; and another, also with a Qianlong reign mark and of the period, was sold in these rooms, 19^th December 1980, lot 28.

The decoration found on this flask is rich in its colour scheme with a florid outline attesting to the high level of workmanship achieved during the Qianlong period. The design is beautifully executed and flawless in its technique. It is inspired by cloisonné enamel lotus scroll designs of the Ming dynasty such as that seen on a vase, in the Palace Museum, included in Zhongguo jinyin boli falangqi quanji, vol. 5, Shijiazhuang, 2002, pl. 68; and a censer with lotus-spray decoration published in Enamel Ware in the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties, Taipei, 1999, pl. 2.   

The form of this flask is an adaptation of much earlier foreign pilgrim bottles made of leather. It is thought that they were made to contain wine. Not long before the Tang dynasty they became the inspiration for ceramic replicas. For Qing period ceramic examples see a Yongzheng blue and white flask with a globular body and the neck rising to a garlic-bulb form mouth, in the Tianjin City Art Museum, illustrated in Tianjin Shi Yishu Bowuguan cang ci, Tianjin, 1993, pl. 146.