A 'FAMILLE-ROSE' EGG-SHELL PORCELAIN VASE WITH PAINTED ENAMEL FIGURES QING DYNASTY, YONGZHENG PERIOD

of thinly potted ovoid form rising to a tapered straight neck, finely painted to the exterior with a scholar leaning upon a large rock on which also rests a brushpot holding calligraphy utensils, a duan inkstone, a tray of finger citron and fruits, and a tall vase on a carved stand displaying flowers, the scholar draped in a heavy mustard-colored robe, an attendant follows while another sits on the grass with a pair of ducks, nearby an old figure with a bamboo cane approaches selling fans, accentuated with hints of pink and green enamel

Donald S. Morrison Collection.
Martin Hurst Collection.
Sotheby's London, 13th March 1973, lot 359.

G.C. Williamson, The Book of Famille Rose, London, 1927, pl. XXXVI.

There is some flaking to the enamels overall. The clothing on the main figure, the bodies of the geese and the clothing of the boy are now a dark yellowish color. It appears that these enamels were flaking and have been covered with as sealant in an attempt to stabilize them, the sealant has darkened with age.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

A famille-rose vase of the same shape and comparable size (height 16 cm), also attributed to the Yongzheng period and with an 'egg-shell' body, is illustrated in Christiaan J.A. Jorg, Chinese Ceramics in the Collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam: The Ming and Qing Dynasties, London, 1997, p. 235, p. 212.