A PAIR OF MOULDED YELLOW-GLAZED WINE CUPS YONGZHENG MARKS AND PERIOD

each delicately potted body with gently rounded sides rising from a short straight foot, finely moulded with a band lotus lappets rising to swirling and overlapping broad mallow-flower petals forming the foliate rim, applied overall with an opaque lemon-yellow glaze, the base with a six-character Yongzheng mark within a double circle

There is a 0.1 x 0.1cm burst glaze bubble and a 0.1 x 0.1cm raised bump along the outside rim of one cup. Other minute burst glaze bubbles and minor surface scratchings are visible in the well; the inner sides have very tiny black spots running along the flaring rim. The other cup has four minute burst glaze bubbles and an iron spot along the rim, one other burst glaze bubble at the footring, several other burst glaze bubbles and iron spots in the well. The yellow glazes on both cups have a slightly mottled effect, particularly evident in the interiors.
"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."

Yellow enamelled cups of this charming form are rare and only one other closely related pair appears to have been published; sold in our New York rooms, 18^th September 1996, lot 221. For slightly larger Yongzheng wine cups of this form covered in a white glaze, see one, but with the reign mark within a double rectangle, included in the exhibition The Wonders of the Potter's Palette, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1984, cat. no. 58; and two pairs of anhua-decorated wine cups, one pair sold twice in these rooms, 6^th July 1971, lot 198, and 9^th June 1987, lot 287, and the second pair sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 18^th May 1988, lot 250.

For larger Yongzheng bowls of this form and glaze, see a pair from the E.T. Hall collection, sold at Christie's London, 7^th June 2004, lot 277.