A FINE CELADON-GLAZED FLOWER HOLDER SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

the compressed body supported on a short foot sweeping up to a broad waisted neck with a cup-shaped mouth sealed on top save for three pierced holes, finely carved in shallow relief with a formal lotus scroll bearing four blooms with stylised shou ('long life') characters inscribed in their centres, set between 'classic' scroll around the mouth and a narrow band of upright petal lappets above the foot, the mouth with three further lotus flowers amidst scrollwork, all beneath a light celadon glaze, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark in underglaze blue

Collection of W.W. Winkworth.
Sotheby's London, 12th December 1972, lot 155.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 17th November 1975, lot 248.

Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 2, no. 869.

The overall condition is very good with only one faint iron spot and one minute 2mm glaze scratch. The actual colour is slightly paler than the catalogue illustration.
"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 form originated in the Yongzheng period, but celadon-glazed examples of that reign are undecorated. A pair of flower holders of that type with Yongzheng seal marks was sold in these rooms, 20th May 1986, lot 97 and again 1st November 1994, lot 111. A single one from the collection of Frederick M. Mayer was sold in our New York rooms, 6th November 1981, lot 301. A plain white Yongzheng example is in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Geng Baochang, ed., Gugong Bowuyuan cang Qingdai yuyao ciqi [Qing porcelains from the Imperial kilns preserved in the Palace Museum], Beijing, 2005, pl. 92.

Another Qianlong vessel of this form, glaze colour and design in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, was included in the Museum's exhibition Qingdai danse you ciqi tezhan [Special exhibition of monochrome glazed porcelain of the Qing dynasty], Taipei, 1981, cat. no. 93; another was sold in our London rooms, 20th June 2001, lot 31.