A FAMILLE-ROSE TURQUOISE-GROUND BOTTLE VASE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF DAOGUANG

the ovoid body painted with a continuous foliate scroll bearing elaborate lotus blooms beneath stylised swastika, alternating with flying bats suspending tasselled lanterns against a soft turquoise ground, between bands of pendent ruyi heads and upright formal lappets, the waisted neck similarly adorned with bats, lingzhi fungi and lotus, flanked by a pair of handles modelled as bats in flight, all below a border with pendent ruyi and lotus collaring the flaring mouth, with details picked out in gilt on the body and around the mouth and foot the interior and underside enamelled turquoise, save for a six-character reign mark in iron-red on the base

The collection of the late Lesley Jephcote (d.1973) of Moseley, England, inherited by his great niece Mrs. Gilhooley of Staffordshire, England.

The overall condition is quite good. The rim has a short hairline crack of approx. 6 mm and there are a few light scratches to the interior mouth. There is some typical wear to the gilt decoration and enamelling, but most has been well preserved.
"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."

Vases of this type were popular throughout the Qing dynasty; however this piece is unique for the unusual combination of the familiar lotus flower scroll with tasselled lanterns. Lanterns are used for celebrations and are hung on the fifteenth day of the first month and during the Moon Festival. The first character for lantern, deng, is a pun for 'bumper harvest' (fengdeng) which equates with peace. According to Therese Bartholomew, in Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art, San Francisco, 2006, p. 240, the lantern pattern was first seen on Liao dynasty (907-1101) silks and that this pattern was identified as 'joy in heaven and earth' (tianxia) in Song and Yuan texts. A similar tasselled lantern, but depicted amongst precious antiques between borders painted with a related lotus scroll design on a pink ground, is found on a vase of this form and size in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelains with Cloisonné Enamel Decoration and Famille Rose Decoration, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 188.

For Daoguang vases of related form and decorated with variations of the lotus scroll motif on a range of coloured grounds, see a turquoise-ground vase with sinuous dragon handles sold in our Paris rooms, 15^th December 2011, lot 184; another of larger size and flanked with archaistic dragon handles sold in these rooms, 8^th April 2007, lot 511; and a pink-ground vase, but without handles, from the Alfred Morrison collection, sold at Christie's London, 9^th November 2004, lot 50.

Vases of this type are inspired by Qianlong vessels of similar shape and famille-rose decoration on a colour-ground; see a pink-ground famille-rose vase from the Fonthill Heirlooms and the collections of Lord Margadale of Islay and Alfred Morrison, sold at Christie's London, 18^th October 1971, lot 70, and again in these rooms, 2^nd May 1985, lot 35.