A LARGE 'FAMILLE ROSE' TWO HANDLED SGRAFFIATO RUBY-GROUND VASE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

the cylindrical body below a waisted neck and flaring rim with stylised flower heads amongst scrolling foliage on a sgraffiato ruby ground with two applied pale blue chilong handles, the central band painted with a continuous scene with two bearded Immortals and their attendants, standing on a rocky promontory, beside a large pine tree, with an attendant looking up at a white crane in flight towards the Penglai Palace, beside rockwork amongst waves, the reverse with two cranes in flight above rocks and waves, with key-fret bands at the rim and foot, the base inscribed with a six character seal mark in iron-red

A Private European collection.

Apart from a slight lean of a few degrees to one side, the overall condition is very good. There are some minor bubbling to the enamelling and a few areas with enamel pull. There is light wear to the gilding on the rim. The handles are in 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."

The present famille rose vase represents the zenith of enamelling on porcelain during the Qianlong period. The Qianlong emperor had a taste for ornamentations and encouraged potters at the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen to produce wares that combined a wide range of glaze and enamel colours in their repertoire. The delicate and meticulous painting of the scene of Daoist Immortals gathering in an idyllic landscape setting highlights the expertise of the painters and is reminiscent of scroll paintings made by court artists. By turning the vessel the painting is slowly revealed as if unfolding a scroll. The theme of Daoist Immortals was much favoured by the Emperor; see a Qianlong vase painted with the design on Eight Immortals, from the Qing court collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in Kangxi. Yongzheng. Qianlong. Qing Porcelain from the Palace Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1989, pl. 31, together with another Qianlong vase decorated with the design of the Nine Elders on similar ruby-ground, pl. 28.

The sumptuous quality of the present piece is heightened by the complicated and laborious technique of the ruby-ground decoration enveloping the central scene, which serves as a border for the painting. The design is reserved on a monochrome enamel ground, itself structured by needle-point etching of endless scrolling fronds. This technique was developed under Tang Ying, Superintendent at the Imperial kilns at Jingdezhen during Qianlong's reign. A similar technique employed on a ruby-ground meiping decorated with related flower scroll design in famille rose enamels in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated ibid., pl. 42.

The painting found on this vase was possibly the inspiration for a Jiaqing vase, of different shape but also painted on ruby-ground and depicting the same scene of Immortals, sold in these rooms, 12^th July 2006, lot 156.