A CANTON-ENAMEL 'LOTUS AND MANDARIN DUCK' MIRROR PLAQUE MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

of rounded square section with a gilt bronze frame decorated with incised chevrons between beaded edges, inset on one side with an enamelled copper plaque depicting a pair of mandarin ducks on a lotus pond, their multi-coloured plumage rendered in pastels of pink, yellow, blue and green with minute detailing in iron-red, brown and gilt, swimming on gently rippling waters below a cluster of white and pink lotus, the lush blooms supported on slender studded stalks with attendant blue and green lotus pads picked out with touches of yellows at their withered edges, inscribed in black enamel on the upper left with a four-character reign mark, the reverse inset with a mirror plate, the frame threaded with a yellow silk tassel embellished with coral beads and mother-of-pearl seeds

The enamelled plaque is slightly warped with small minor specks, but overall it is in very good condition with the enamels well presevred. The mirror plate on the reverse is oxidized and cracked.
"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 charming plaque is notable for the four-character Qianlong reign mark that is written in a vertical line in the top left corner. Due to the nature of the plaque, which may have served as a mirror, the imperial designation of the piece was limited to one surface hence its inclusion within the main design. However the craftsman has cleverly incorporated the mark within the decoration so that it resembles inscription on a painting.

 

Compare small table screens also enamelled in the style of a painting, with two lines of inscription accompanying the illustration, such as a one enamelled with a related scene of two egrets swimming in a lotus pond, and pastoral landscapes on the reverse, offered in these rooms, 11^th April 2008, lot 2845; and a pair of table screens, illustrating birds and animals amongst trees and European landscapes on the reverse, from the Seattle Art Museum, sold in our New York rooms, 28^th February 1980, lot 96.