A RARE AND LARGE FIVE-PIECE BLUE AND WHITE GARNITURE QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD

comprising three baluster vases and covers and two beaker vases, each molded with petal-shaped panels containing alternating well-painted scenes of elegant court ladies engaged in a variety of pursuits such as harvesting lotus blossoms from boats, playing with children and playing various musical instruments and an array of flowering plants including chrysanthemum, lotus, peony,and magnolia, the fitted domed covers similarly decorated and surmounted by fu-lion knops, the base with beribboned artemisia leaf marks (8)

Sotheby's New York, 21st September 2005, lot 100.

All three jars with restoration to the rim and neck for small chips and hairline cracks, one with a 'V' form break. Both beakers with restoration to chips and frits to the rim and one to the base as well. All three covers with restoration to chips and frits to the rim, one with a restored section to the inner rim; two lion head knops with restored glaze flakes one of which has restored curls and has been off and restuck.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Derived from traditional Chinese altar sets, garniture sets consist of an odd number of complimentary forms, the most popular grouping in the West being five piece sets of three covered jars and two vases.  Large scale complete garnitures are rare and were to be found in the West among the greatest royal collections of the 18th century, Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland in Dresden, Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin and Hampton Court, London. The height of the fashion for these attractive sets was the latter half of the Kangxi period and painted in vivid shades of cobalt blue.  The subject matter was often stylized such as seen in the popular 'Long Eliza' decoration. Vases painted with such details as the present set are far more unusual. The vignettes of fashionable court ladies in elegant settings may be interpreted as perhaps either an aspirational prompting for young ladies and an alluring impression conveyed upon a western audience enraptured by all things Chinese.

A garniture of similar massive dimensions but containing only floral reserves from the Estate of Elizabeth H. Maddox sold in these rooms 19th March 1997, lot 251 and another set similar in size and decoration was included in the exhibition 'The Age of Gallantry', The Chinese Porcelain Company, New York, 12 October-4 November 1995, Catalogue, no. 100.