A CLOISONNE ENAMEL AND GILT-BRONZE TRIPOD CENSER AND COVER QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

the body of compressed spherical form with lotus petal lappet border at the shoulder chased in high-relief, the vertical collar with slightly everted lip, a pair of chased gilt-bronze qilong-form handles at the shoulder, all on three cabriole legs joined to the body with chased makara-heads, the gently-domed cover surmounted by an openwork spherical finial chased with lotus-scroll, a yin-yang symbol within hibiscus petals on the top of the finial, the finial joining the cover with a ring of chased lotus petal lappets, the body decorated in colorful enamels with fruiting and flowering peach sprays against a turquoise ground, ruyi-head border at the collar, the underside with a stylised chrysanthemum blossom, the cover with three red bats and three peaches also on a turquoise ground, the lower enameled part of the legs decorated with floral scrolls

Acquired in New York, December 2000.

The censer is in good condition overall. There a slight dent to the finial, a few scattered minor dings to the metal at the extremities, scattered pitting to the enamels, some of which have been filled in. The handle on the LHS is slightly loose. There are a few minor flakes to the enamels on the body around the handle on the RHS which have been retouched.
"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 piece relates to a a group of covered censers of various sizes, unified by the overall form of globular body on scrolled makara legs, twin scrolled qilong handles and domed cover surmounted by a pierced finial.  Of known censers from this group, this appears to not only be the smallest, but also the only one with body decorated with 'naturalistic' peach sprays, the other examples decorated with a variety of styliSed floral and scroll motifs.  The motifs of the present example convey wishes of blessings and longevity.

For related Qianlong and 18th century examples of this form, compare the censer with reversed makara-heads on the legs, sold in our London rooms, 3rd June 1975, lot 32; a censer with cloisonné lotus petal lappets at the shoulder, from the Fonthill Heirlooms, probably removed from the Imperial Summer Palace, Yuanmingyuan, Beijing in 1860, sold at Christie's London, 9th November 2004, lot 23; a censer with hexagonal body sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30th May 2005, lot 1285; and another of hexagonal form with stepped cover, formerly in the Collection of the Palmer Museum of Art, sold in our New York rooms, 23rd March 2004, lot 542, and sold again in these same rooms, 30th March 2006, lot 172.  For a censer from the Qing Court Collection with cloisonné finial, see Metal-Bodied Enamel Ware. The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2002, no. 150, p. 158.