A RARE DOUCAI 'BAJIXIANG' JARLET SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

very finely potted with a slightly compressed globular body resting on a short splayed foot and surmounted by a short neck, the body meticulously detailed and enamelled in the doucai palette, highlighted with famille-rose with a frieze of the bajixiang emblems above an undulating scroll of stylised lotus blooms, the design densely wreathed by smaller flowering blooms borne on leafy scrolls, all set between bands of pendent ruyi-blooms and upright slender petal lappets, the footrim skirted with a pendent trefoil lappet border picked out with dotted motifs, the base inscribed with an underglaze-blue six-character seal mark

The overall condition is very good. There are only some expected surface scratches and wear to the enamels and a few insignificant star crackles to the glaze on the interior.
"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 extremely rare jarlet, brilliantly enamelled with a rare combination of doucai and famille-rose enamels, appears to have been inspired by Chenghua doucai covered jars, decorated with the bajixiang surmounting lotus blooms and framed within C-scrolls; for example see one published in Yuan’s and Ming’s Imperial Porcelain Unearthed from Jingdezhen/Jingdezhen chutu Yuan Ming guanyao taoci, Beijing, 1999, pl. 327. Another rare doucai jarlet of this form with similar Qianlong seal mark, complete with its cover and enamelled with phoenix, is illustrated in Liu Liang-yu, Ch'ing Official and Popular Wares. A Survey of Chinese Ceramics, vol. 5, Taipei, 1991, p. 182.

The Qianlong Emperor’s preference for auspicious and novel designs is evident in the imperial wares of this reign, which frequently combined elements of various traditional motifs and formal elements to form innovative designs. The present jarlet is an example of such originality, which presents the traditional bajixiang, ruyi bands and flower scrolls in an unconventional arrangement and unusual form.