A RARE INSCRIBED CLOISONNE ENAMELLED CYLINDRICAL VESSEL QING DYNASTY, MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG, DATED 1775

of cylindrical form, brilliantly decorated around the body with an Imperial poem written in lishu ('clerical' script) dated to the yi wei year of the Qianlong reign (corresponding to 1775) with two seals qian and long all in red cloisonné enamels on a turquoise 'crackled ice and prunus' ground, within two bands of multi-coloured scrolling lotus blooms on a purple ground, the gilt-bronze mouthrim and footrim cast with a key-fret pattern, the flat base with the triagram qian in a medallion flanked by a pair of yellow dragons amidst multi-coloured clouds, a pun on the name of the Qianlong emperor, the mouthrim set with three apertures, possibly intended originally to accommodate a cover

There are a few minor losses as well as expected pitting in the enamels but overall the condition is very good. There are a few nicks along the edge and some wear to the gilding on the mouth and the footrim. There was an upper part to the cylinder, possibly a cover that would have fit inside the three apertures on top of the mouth, or was a liner to another container.
"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."

The imperial poem on the present vessel, titled Yong Xuande yao wudang zun (In Praise of the Xuande Wudang Zun) and dated to the yiwei year of the Qianlong reign (corresponding to 1775 AD), is included in the Anthology of Imperial Qianlong Poems (Qing Gaozong yu zhi shi wen quan), 4 ji, juan 21.

The poem is one of three written by Qianlong in praise of a Xuande blue-and-white vessel of hollow cylindrical form decorated with calligraphic Arabic lettering, which he named wudang zun (zun without a base). An example in the British Museum, London, is included in Jessica Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 110, pl. 3:22, where the author notes that in form and decoration this type of vessel is modelled after silver-inlaid brass stands for holding a tray made in Mamlük, Egypt, circa 1300-1350. It is further mentioned, ibid., p. 110, that shards of a closely related example with a Xuande reign mark and of the period were unearthed at Dongyuan, Zhushan in 1993. While the middle-Eastern metal stand was made to hold a tray, the Chinese porcelain version is much smaller in size. Furthermore, it was not used as a stand but was lined with a cylindrical form metal vessel, such as the present piece, that served as a vase or perhaps a candle or an incense holder. Qianlong in his poems on the Xuande wudang zun mentions that originally there was a Jingtai period (r.1450-1456) lining made in cloisonné enamel, which had been lost. It is likely that he commissioned the making of this vessel as a replacement of the original.

The trigram is one of the bagua (Eight Trigrams) used in ancient times for divination. Consisting of three unbroken lines, it represents the male principle (yang). Qianlong was fond of symbols with archaic connotation and often used the combination of this trigram, which is called qian, with dragons (long) as a homophone of his reign name.

This vessel may have been used as a liner for a hollow archaic jade cong vessel and fitted with a cover to be used as a vase. See an example in The Life of the Emperor Qianlong, The Macao Museum of Art, Macau, 2002, cat. no. 61. A related cloisonné enamel vessel bearing an imperial poem dated to 1783, was sold at Christie's London, 12th May 2009, lot 123. See two vessels in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, a white-jade archaistic vase and a porcelain globular-form container both included in the museum's official website with a metal lining, cat. nos. 001206N and 001349N respectively. A pair of jade cong was included in the exhibition Emperor Ch'ien-lung's Grand Cultural Enterprise, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2002, cat. no. III-1, together with a cloisonné enamel vessel bearing an imperial poem that served as a liner for the cong.