A BLUE AND WHITE 'BAT AND CLOUD' BOTTLE VASE QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

the pear-shaped body rising from a slightly splayed foot to a tall cylindrical neck, painted in cobalt-blue tones with bats among clusters of stylised clouds above lotus lappets each enclosing a vertical fish-roe pattern, skirting around the foot with a keyfret border

The vase is of excellent condition with the exception of a minor scratch measuring circa 0.7cm on the rim and very minor glaze firing imperfections such as iron spots and bust glaze 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."

This piece is unusual for its decoration of bats and clouds in underglaze blue and no other example of this form appears to have been published, although the design is known on doucai vases; see a Qianlong mark and period example of pear-shape and flared rim, but the design divided with a key-fret and ruyi border at the shoulder, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 14^th July 1981, lot 123; and another sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 16^th May 1989, lot 299, and again at Christie's Hong Kong, 29-30^th October 2001, lot 840. A similarly decorated doucai ovoid jar and cover, with a Qianlong reign mark and of the period, was sold in these rooms, 12^th December 1978, lot 414; and another from the Jingguantang collection was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28^th April 1997, lot 748.

Compare also a tianqiuping painted with copper red bats and lingzhi fungus amongst underglaze blue clouds, from the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, published in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (III), Hong Kong, 2000, pl. 212; and a pear-shaped vase sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 19^th November 1978, lot 277.

The design of bats and clouds is highly auspicious. The Chinese words for bat (fu) and cloud (yun) are synonymous with luck and fortune.