A 'FAMILLE-ROSE' BRUSHPOT SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

of rectangular form resting on a four bracket feet, moulded on each side with an indented panel within an iron-red border, two sides of the exterior painted in a 'famille-rose' palette with a landscape scene, the first enclosing Zhang Guolao and Li Tieguai with their associated attributes, the second with two scholars, the other two sides with an inscription written in caoshu, all reserved on a soft greige ground decorated in gilt with foliate scrolls, the interior and base turqouise, the base with a central square reserved in white and inscribed with the seal mark in iron-red 

There are three old shallow flakes to the interior of the brushpot near the mouthrim, the largest of approx 1 by 0.6cm. There are three small flakes to the turquoise enamel on the base, the largest approx 0.2 by 0.1cm. There are two small flakes to the iron-red band on one side of the brushpot, as visible in the catalogue, the larger of approx 0.4 by 0.1cm, and scattered stained pinprick burst air bubbles. There is expected rubbing to the gilding, and wear to the feet.
"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."

Famille-rose brushpots decorated in this painterly manner with poems and figures in landscape are rare. The present brushpot takes its form after the famous square brushpot in the yang-ts'ai enamels with imperial poems on four sides, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the Special Exhibition of K'ang-Hsi, Yung-cheng and Ch'ien-lung Porcelain Ware from the Ch'ing Dynasty in the National Palace Museum, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1986, cat.no. 139, and also in the exhibition Stunning Decorative Porcelains from the Ch'ien-lung Reign, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2008, cat. no. 59. Another related grisaille decorated square brushpot, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Geng Baochang, 'Tan Tang Ying kuan de ciqi ji qita', Jingdezhen taoci, Jingdezhen, 1982, no. 2, back cover. See a third square-form brushpot offered in these rooms, 27th April 2003, lot 180, attributed to Tang Ying and painted with landscape scenes on two of the four sides and poems on the remaining two.