A CLOISONNE 'LOTUS' CENSER INCISED MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

raised on a short cirular foot, the bombé body rising to a slightly everted rim, decorated around the exterior with two friezes of lotus blooms borne on foliate scrolls, set on the sides with a pair of gilt-decorated loop handles in the form of stylised elephant heads, the recessed underside with a gilt cartouche incised with a vertical six-character reign mark in regular script followed by the character zhu, reserved against the cloisonne ground

The overall condition is very good with only some expected tarnishing to the alloy, minor losses to the enamel and wear to the gilt decoration on the interior.
"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 present censer appears to derive its form from the archaic bronze ritual vessel, the gui. As the Qianlong emperor was a keen collector of objects that were modelled after relics from antiquity, craftsmen adopted archaic shapes while making liberal changes to create pieces that were contemporary and unique. For example, the elephant head handles have replaced the usual loop handles, the typically flared foot has been substituted for a straight foot, and the body has been adorned with lotus scrolls made popular from the Yuan period (1279-1368).

For the possible prototype to this form and decoration of this censer, see one attributed to the Yuan dynasty, but with a flared foot and animal-mask handles and decorated with an upper band of flower heads, in the Qing Court collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 6.