A VERY RARE AND FINELY ENAMELLED 'FAMILLE-ROSE' CELADON GROUND BUTTERFLY VASE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

THIS IS A PREMIUM LOT. CLIENTS WHO WISH TO BID ON PREMIUM LOTS ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE THE PREMIUM LOT PRE-REGISTRATION 3 WORKING DAYS PRIOR TO THE SALE.




of baluster shape, the waisted neck flanked by two moulded archaistic dragon handles with scales and facial features picked-out in gilt, the body and neck intricately painted with plump sweet melons in iron-red, black, turquoise, lime-green, and pink, suspended from intertwining vines issuing broad five-pronged leaves and small yellow blossoms, all amidst delicate butterflies fluttering at various altitudes, some of light pastel-pink, lavender, lilac and green, others of deep ochre-red, charcoal-grey with detailing elaborately picked-out in gilding, all against a light celadon-green ground extending to the interior and base, a border of pink ruyi-heads at the rim and collar, and a band of pendant leaf lappets at the foot below a border of upright petal lappets, the base gilded with a six-character seal mark

Christie's London, 6th June 1988, lot 103.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 31st October 2004, lot 140.

The enamels on this vase are brilliant and well-fired, and the gilding well preserved and not worn. However, there is a fine hairline crack to the side of the body of 8.6 cm long. The tips of the left ear of both dragons has a few very minute frits, which may be the result of burst bubbles.
"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."

Exquisitely enamelled to complement an elegant elongated form, the design of butterflies hovering amongst melons hanging from vines is rare and no similar example appears to have been published. The rarity of such a piece is not surprising given the high standards of the imperial manufactories under the keen eye of the Qianlong emperor and the rigorous scrutiny of the imperial kiln supervisor, Tang Ying. With its dense composition and fairly large blocks of colour scattered overall, as well as the naturalistic representation of the fruiting melon vines, this demanding design represents the exceptional proficiency of Qianlong imperial porcelain painters.   

The sophistication of the present vase has been achieved through the fusion of Western painting techniques with traditional Chinese motifs. The melons, carefully rendered to create a three-dimensional effect through the light to dark tonal gradations, and the intricate attention paid to the detailing of the fluttering butterflies reveal the influence of Jesuit artists at court. Moreover, the boldly coloured melons that appear to loom from the surface echoes the ovoid form of the vase while the twisting vine branches are repeated in the sinuous qilong handles to create an added sense of harmony and movement.

Only a very small number of vessels with this decoration from the Qianlong period are known; see a sky-blue ground meiping decorated with a more sparsely-composed motif of butterflies and melons applied in iron-red and green enamels, in the Shanghai Museum, illustrated in Chugoku toji zenshu, vol. 21, Shanghai, 1981, pl. 125; and a Beijing enamel snuff bottle and a glass snuff bottle, both painted with butterflies and melons, in the Palace Museum collection, illustrated in Chugoku no toji, vol. 11, Tokyo, 1996, p. 137, pls. 77 and 78.

A related but more schematised design can also be found on Jiaqing vases; for example see an ovoid jar sold in our London rooms, 14^th November 2001, lot 105; and another sold in these rooms, 22^nd May 1979, lot 271. For an example decorated in doucai enamels see one in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelains in Polychrome and Contrasting Colours, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 262.

The butterfly is a very auspicious motif, symbolising blessings, happiness and longevity. The philosopher Zhuangzhi (4^th century BC) dreamed that he was a butterfly flying about in a carefree manner while sipping nectar from flowers; thus the butterfly is also an emblem of joy. When pictured with melons, this design represents the wish for numerous descendants.