A LARGE 'FAMILLE-ROSE' 'IMMORTALS' VASE QING DYNASTY, JIAQING PERIOD

the ovoid body rising from a short spreading foot to a tall elegant waisted neck with everted gilt rim, brightly enamelled around the exterior with the Immortals in a mountainous landscape, all between dragon and ruyi bands at the shoulder and base, the neck with leafy lotus strapwork reserved on a mauve ground

This brightly enamelled vase is in good overall condition with the exception of some overpainting around the top section of the neck and rim, appearing to cover a circa 7 x 4cm., crescent-shaped section break at the rim and a circa 4cm., long rim crack, but with no obvious loss, minor glaze and enamel scratches and a 1mm., diam. iron-spot glaze imperfection in the sky area of the upper body.
"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."

While vases painted in famille rose enamels with figural scenes between colour ground borders are well known, this vase is unusual for the ruyi and chilong dragon borders and the bluish-lavender ground of the neck and lower body. Vases of similar ovoid form depicting figures in landscapes include one with a shorter neck with dragon and phoenix boating scenes between yellow-ground borders, but with archaistic dragon handles and inscribed Shengde tang (made for the Hall of Careful Virtue) on the base, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 28^th April 1992, lot 185; and another sold in these rooms, 8^th December 1992, lot 296. A pair of Jiaqing mark and period vases with similarly rendered lotus scrolls, but with C-shaped handles and depicting a Dragon Boat Festival scene, from the Huaihaitang collection, was included in the exhibition Ethereal Elegance, Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2007, cat. no. 138. The form of this vase is reminiscent of smaller vases decorated with foliate lotus scrolls on a coloured ground, such as one illustrated in Qingdai ciqi shangjian, Shanghai, 1994, p. 192, pl. 247.