A FINE AGATE ‘LOTUS’ WATERPOT QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

naturalistically carved in the form of a hollowed lotus pod and a smaller attendant pod with dragonflies resting atop, supported on curved leafy stems issuing millet sprays, arrowhead and three water chestnuts, an egret crouching beside eating a fish, the translucent variegated stone of warm beige colour attractively suffused with dark brown, milky-white and emerald-green inclusions, wood stand

The waterpot is in excellent condition with the exception of a very minute nick to the edge of the opening.
"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."

Ingeniously envisaged and exquisitely carved, this charming waterpot reveals the skill of the craftsman particularly in his incorporation of the coloured layers of the stone to fashion its different components. It is likely to belong to a group of items produced for the imperial court under the reign of the Qianlong emperor who introduced a taste for curios and miniature artifacts. An array of objects, including vessels, scholar’s items, sculpture and books, were made in various media and precious materials. While large objects immediately attract attention for their impressive size, the beauty of miniature pieces lies in the extraordinary level of craftsmanship and detail achieved by the artist who has applied his masterly skills onto a small surface.

 

Smaller objects in the imperial collections, such as the present piece, were managed and housed in treasure boxes (duobaoge). The contents of these treasure boxes usually cover the entire range of the imperial collections, from jades and bronzes of all ages to decorative arts and exotica from foreign countries. Thus the treasure box is a microcosm of the emperor’s collection: reducing the vast imperial collection to a manageable size and format. See two treasure boxes filled with miniature treasures included in the exhibition Possessing the Past. Treasures from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1996, cat. nos 352 and 353.