A RARE IMPERIAL ENAMELLED GOLD-BODIED CUPSTAND QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG / JIAQING PERIOD

the shallow rounded sides rising from a hollow base to a broad everted rim, cast in the centre with a raised stand to support a cup and finely enamelled on the gold body, the central recessed ring with an open bloom on a turquoise ground, encircled by petal lappets on the exterior walls, the well with a turquoise band enclosing a garland of alternating pink and blue petalled florets, the rim decorated with four turquoise-ground lobed lotus panels, all against a deep purplish-blue ground dressed with densely foliate lotus scrolls, the underside similarly enamelled with peony scrolls against a dark purplish-blue ground, save for the hollow base applied with a thick white enamel and pierced with five small apertures, the rims left in plain solid gold

There are some light crackles and two small triangular flakes to the enamel on the base revealing the gold body underneath. There is a 4 cm section and a minute flake on the rim that has been repainted. The overall condition is quite good.
"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 cupstand is unusual for the body which has been cast from gold. Several Qianlong marked gold-bodied cupstands from the Qing court collection, and still in Beijing, are illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong, 2002, pls. 204-206. See also ibid., pl. 243, for an unmarked bronze-bodied Jiaqing cupstand with a decoration related to the present piece. A Beijing enamel gold-bodied cup of the Jiaqing reign was sold in these rooms, 26th October 2003, lot 20.

Cupstands of this type were more commonly enamelled on bronze bodies and appear to have been introduced to the Qing court during the reign of Kangxi. A Kangxi marked enamelled bronze-bodied cup and cupstand, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, was included in the Museum's exhibition Emperor Kangxi and the Sun King Louis XIV, 2nd October 2011 - 3rd January 2012, no. IV-32. Compare also a Yongzheng mark and period example, similarly decorated with floral scrolls and additional shou medallions, sold in these rooms, 29^th November 1978, lot 440. For a Qianlong mark and period example, see one sold in these rooms, 30^th November 1980, lot 587.