An outstanding and rare 'doucai' five-lobed vase (meiping) Qianlong seal mark and period

the elegant baluster body divided into five vertical lobes, the swelling shoulder tapering dramatically to the slightly flared foot, the short narrow neck arching outward, culminating in a five-petaled rounded lip, finely painted with confronting qilong dragons below distinct registers of stylized lotus scrolls, confronting bats, peaches, and wan symbols, the shoulder featuring a large downturned stylized bat on each lobe, all between yellow ruyi-head borders at the neck and foot

Bearing a label printed Edward I Farmer, erroneously attributed to the Yongzheng period.

The vase is in very good overall condition. The base was formerly drilled at the base for use as a lamp, and has been restored along with the seal mark. The control of the enamels and iron-red is excellent, with some minor characteristic brown stains in enamel craquelure. There are scattered bits of very minute kiln grit to the exterior and one to the inside of the mouth, barely noticeable. One tiny dark iron speck to interior of mouth, visible on page 153 of the catalogue. Very minor abrasion to iron-red at the shoulder, the area where it has most contact while being handled. The shoulder also with a few minor scratches. All of these small flaws are negligible and do not impact the overall beauty of the piece. The inside of the neck appears to have a small vertical firing flaw associated with a lobe, but this is not evident from the exterior and does not disfigure the shape in any way. The colors, particularly the green and the blue, are slightly less pronounced and dark than the catalogue images suggest.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Porcelain manufacturing reached its most fruitful period of development under the Qianlong emperor, who had a deep appreciation for wares that combined aesthetic harmony with technical virtuosity. This vase is a masterpiece for its complex and innovative lobed form derived from the traditional meiping shape and for the exquisite painting in the traditional Ming doucai style. It is a vase that is clearly inspired by antiquities yet is adapted to contemporary tastes for works of an exceptional standard of quality.

The present vase appears to be the only example recorded, although a blue and white meiping of the same size, form and decoration, also with a Qianlong seal mark on its base, was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 23rd May 1978, lot 133, and again in our London rooms, 17th December 1996, lot 98. See also a doucai meiping attributed to the Yongzheng period decorated in a closely related manner with the same design sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 16th May 1977, lot 144.

Doucai decoration, whereby the motif is outlined in blue under the glaze and colored over the glaze with enamel colors within the blue lines, is derived from the cloisonne technique of the Ming period. The technique of producing doucai wares was developed in the Chenghua period (1426-35) resulting in the production of the wonderful Chenghua chicken cups and stembowls. Doucai wares continued to be appreciated for their understated elegance and for their association with Chenghua porcelain during the Qing dynasty and were especially favored by the Yongzheng and Qianlong emperors who commissioned the making of very fine examples of these wares.