A FINE AND RARE CELADON-GLAZED INCISED-DECORATED WASHER SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

the shallow, slightly flared sides rising from a broad flat base to a short upright rim, lightly incised on the interior with five bats flying over a ring of turbulent waves, below a thin band of stylised camellia florets on detached floral scrolls alternating with lotus florets encircling the mouth, the exterior incised with four lotus flowers separated by four ruyi heads interlinked with a foliate scroll framing the lotuses, all below a band of 'classic' scroll encircling the rim, covered overall with a pale ice-blue celadon glaze, the recessed base inscribed with a six-character reign mark encircled by nine tiny spur marks

Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 26^th October 1993, lot 121.
Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8^th October 2008, lot 2506.

Apart from expected light surface scratches on the interior, the washer is in very good condition overall. The actual colour is quite close to 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."

A closely related example from the J.M. Hu collection, was included in the exhibition Qing Imperial Monochromes. The Zande Lou Collection, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 2005, cat. no. 45, later sold in these rooms, 9th October 2012, lot 101. Celadon washers of this type are known decorated with various designs on the interior and exterior; see one similarly incised with a large medallion formed from two confronted pairs of chilong on the interior and a band of stylised flowerheads on both inside and outside walls, sold twice in these rooms, 20^th May 1980, lot 77, and 24^th November 1987, lot 117; and another, the interior carved with a double vajra and the sides with the bajixiang, the exterior with leafy lotus blooms, sold in these rooms, 10^th April 2006, lot 1622.

Compare also a Yongzheng  mark and period washer incised with a peony spray, encircled by a peony scroll on the inside and outside walls, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 3^rd November 1998, lot 934.