A PAIR OF LARGE FAMILLE-ROSE 'BAJIXIANG' ALTAR VASES, GU QIANLONG SEAL MARKS AND PERIOD

of archaic bronze shape, each vase finely decorated in bright famille-rose enamels on the flaring trumpet-shaped neck with four of the bajixiang divided by scrolling lotus blooms between ruyi head and upright lappet borders, the reign mark written in iron-red enamel in a single line within a rectangular cartouche on the narrow cylindrical neck and framed by a keyfret border, the central bulbous knop section enamelled with further lotus scrolls, all supported on the high bell-shaped foot enamelled with the four remaining Buddhist emblems between chevron, key-fret and ruyi head borders, the interiors of the neck and foot enamelled in turquoise, the edges highlighted with gilding

Acquired in the early 20th century, and thence by descent.
An English Private Collection.

One with a 97mm rim crack, with associated restored losses and possible retouching to the gilding at the rim. The other vase with the flaring neck extensively restored, previously broken into approximately 6 sections, with associated losses and a shallow associated 14mm rim chip, recently restored with minor retouching to the enamels and gilding to the rim. Both vases have minor glaze firing imperfections and surface wear/scratches.
"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 devout Buddhist and practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, the Qianlong emperor commissioned the furnishing of the Buddhist temples and ancestral halls with ritual vessels made from the finest materials, including cloisonné enamel, bronze and porcelain. Vases of this form belong to this group of ritual wares, which were produced in a range of colour palettes and sizes, and sometimes as part of a group of five altar garnitures. The present vases are particularly notable for their large size and famille-rose palette on a white ground; compare a similarly decorated vase of smaller size (36.5cm) sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 30^thApril 1996, lot 500.

 

Vases of this type are more commonly known in a smaller size and decorated on a coloured ground; a yellow ground example, from the Nanjing Museum, was included in the exhibition Qing Imperial Porcelain, Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1995, cat. no. 95; two coral ground examples were sold in our rooms, one in Hong Kong, 8^th October 2006, lot 1123, and the other in these rooms, 10^th November 2004, lot 666; a ruby-ground version was sold in these rooms, 13^th July 2005, lot 267; a pair of pink-ground vases, was sold in these rooms, 1th June 1991, lot 218, and again at Christie’s Hong Kong, 28^th October 2002, lot 733; and a light-blue ground example was sold in these rooms, 9^th November 2005, lot 314.

 

Compare also a complete set of altar garnitures with related designs which include two gu vases, such as a set of slightly smaller size (vases measuring 35.6cm) decorated in doucai enamels, sold in these rooms, 10^th June 1991, lot 196, and again in our Hong Kong rooms, 4^th April 2012, lot 50, from the Meiyintang collection; and another much smaller set (vases measuring 27cm), presented by Lord Kitchener to Sir Thomas Hohler, sold twice in these rooms, 17^th December 1980, lot 677, and again, 11^th May 2011, lot 230. Sets continued to be made into the Jiaqing and Daoguang reigns; for example see a lime-ground five-piece garniture, with a Daoguang reign mark and of the period, sold in these rooms, 17^th December 1996, lot 163.