A fine famille-rose lantern vase with immortals Qing Dynasty, Yongzheng Period

the ovoid body delicately painted with three of the 'Eight Immortals', Lu Dongbin as the scholar with his fly whisk leaning on a rootwood stand, Zhang Guo drinking his wine from a cup, and Li Tieguai as the beggar with his double-gourd and crutch holding a conch shell and seated next to a wine jar, the faces of each immortal realistically rendered in fine detail with subtle shading, all set within a rock garden amid a peach tree, lingzhi fungus, and flying bats

Apart from a few light scratches on the surface, 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."

Vessels decorated in this painterly fashion belong to a special group of wares of the 18th century when enamel decoration on ceramics reached new heights under the guidance and expertise of Tang Ying, Superintendent at the Imperial kilns at Jingdezhen. Tang's talent for design and in-depth knowledge of porcelain made the manufacture of wares, such as the present vase, possible. Tang himself was an accomplished painter and artist and used his talent to have many of the wares executed in a painterly fashion. The decoration found on this vase unfolds like a scroll, with the subject matter of the Immortals perfectly positioned on a white ground. The colours used are also influenced by contemporary paintings.  

See a vase of different form painted with the Eight Immortals in a similar palette, from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelains with Cloisonne Enamel Decoration and Famille Rose Decoration, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 120. Another Qianlong vase, painted with a scene of the nine elders amongst similar bluish-green rockwork is included in Kangxi. Yongzheng. Qianlong. Qing Porcelain from the Palace Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1989, pl. 28.