Vase en porcelaine de la famille rose Chine, dynastie Qing, marque et époque Qianlong (1736-1795)

la panse globulaire sur un court pied avec un haut col, le pourtour à décor polychrome de rinceaux de lotus et pêches sur un fond bleu ciel, un pendentif auspicieux de chauve-souris, double papillon et noeud sans fin panchang sur le col, une frise de grecques rose autour du pied

Two restorations to the mouth rim: a "V-shaped" section (approx 2.5 x 2.5 cm) with a hairline crack extending beneath up to the tail of the bat (now secured), and adjacent to it a chip with crack extending beneath on approx 3-4 cm across one of the flowers.
"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."

It is rare to find a Qianlong vase of this elegant shape and delicate design in the famille-rose palette on a turquoise ground, although a closely related example is illustrated in The Porcelain of the Ch'ing Dynasty, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 55. For a Qianlong vase of this form, similarly decorated with auspicious motifs on a lime-green ground, but with iron-red handles in the form of bats, see one sold in out Hong Kong rooms, 6^th December 1994, lot 213; and another sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29^th April 1996, lot 760. Compare also a lime-green ground Jiaqing vase of this form and related design, but with a central double butterfly motif in place of the large lotus flower, from the George Weishaupt Collection, illustrated in Gunhild Avitabile, From the Dragon's Treasure, London, 1987, pl. 23, and sold in our Amsterdam rooms, 16^th October 1995, lot 28, and again in our Hong Kong rooms, 30^th April 1996, lot 509.

This vase is replete with auspicious symbolism. The combination of the sanduo (Three Abundances, comprised of the peach (longevity), pomegranate (many sons) and finger citron (blessings and longevity)) with bats (blessings) represents the wish for the blessing of the Three Abundances. Moreover, the endless knot (symbolising the endless wisdom and compassion of the Buddha) and the double butterfly (marital happiness) suggest that this piece may have been presented as a wedding gift.