Vase en porcelaine vert et aubergine sur fond jaune Chine, dynastie Qing, marque et époque Qianlong (1736-1795)

de forme balustre avec un haut col évasé, le pourtour délicatement incisé de rinceaux de lotus aubergine et vert alternés sur fond jaune, une frise de ruyi autour du col et de l'épaule et vagues autour du pied, la base jaune incisée de la marque zhuanshu à six caractères de l'empereur Qianlong

The mouth rim has been reduced and is now restored on slightly less than 1cm (showing on the illustration in the catalogue). Except this restoration, body is perfect as well as the neck.
"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 vase is a rare example of Qianlong period wares decorated in this powerfully contrasting palette of yellow, green and aubergine. The three colours belong to the famille verte palette of enamels and together with white formed the basic colours of Kangxi biscuit wares. Suzanne G. Valenstein in A Handbook of Chinese Ceramics, New York, 1989, p. 236, notes that these glazes were also 'washed over engraved design of flowers or dragons on grounds of contrasting colours. Again, they can be daubed in variegated patterns, including the motley of colours given fanciful names such as 'tiger-skin', 'leopard-skin' and 'egg-and-spinach'. After the Kangxi period, the famille verte palette of enamels lost much of its popularity. However, it did continue in minor use during subsequent reigns'. The present vase therefore belongs to this 'special' group of wares that reveals the Qianlong emperor's fondness for copying and reproducing past designs and glazes.

The decoration found on the present vase is inspired by an earlier, Yongzheng period, olive-shaped vase with closely related flower motif on the main body, in green enamels on a yellow-ground, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, included in Kangxi. Yongzheng. Qianlong. Qing Porcelain from the Palace Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1989, p. 236, pl. 65.

See a Qianlong green and aubergine decorated yellow-ground 'Birthday' dish illustrated in John Ayers, The Baur Collection, vol. 4, Geneva, 1974, pl. A545; and another, possibly the pair to the Baur dish sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 23^rd October 2005, lot 209.

Compare also a yellow-ground olive-shaped vase belonging to this 'special' group of Qianlong wares, decorated with green dragons, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published op.cit., Hong Kong, p. 442, pl. 124.

For the inspiration of the type see two Kangxi vases decorated in the same scheme illustrated in Sekai toji zenshu, vol. 15, Tokyo, fig. 183, from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and fig. 184, from the Umezawa Kinenkan, Tokyo.