A finely painted famille-verte rouleau vase Qing Dynasty, Kangxi Period

the cylindrical body elegantly painted in the famille-verte palette with scholars gathered at a garden pavilion practising in the 'Four Scholarly Accomplishments,' including playing the qin, writing calligraphy, appreciating paintings, and playing chess, set below a shoulder painted with lotus flower heads reserved on a diaper ground, a slender neck collared with a raised keyfret filet, leaf tips and ruyi heads, and a galleried mouth

Apart from fritting along the bottom of the galleried mouth that has been filled-in with clear resin, the overall condition is very good. The enameling is in very 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."

Kangxi vases of this form were often decorated with scenes from plays and contemporary activities at court. This vase depicts the 'Four Scholarly Accomplishments' which were the four arts particularly esteemed in China from the early-Tang period (AD 618-907), and the mastery of these was considered to be the mark of a well-rounded gentleman-scholar. For examples of vases of this form but depicted with ladies at court practising the Scholarly Arts, see one sold in our New York rooms, 11-12^th April 1990, lot 532; another from the T. Y. Chao collection sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 18^th November 1986, lot 124; and an ovoid jar in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, illustrated in Suzanne G. Valenstein, A Handbook of Chinese Ceramics, New York, 1975, pl. 132