A SMALL CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL AND GILT-BRONZE 'LOTUS' VASE INCISED MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

cast with an ovoid body rising from a splayed foot to a tall flaring neck, the turquoise-ground neck, body and foot divided by thin raised fillets, the body decorated in bright cloisonné enamels with multi-coloured floral scrolls and two yellow-bordered pink-ground cartouches enclosing a large lotus bloom, all between two bands of blue ruyi heads, the neck similarly decorated with florets wreathed by curling scrolls between stylised ruyi-shaped lappets, all above 'hoof-feet' motifs skirting the foot, the gilt-bronze base incised with a six-character horizontal reign mark followed by the character wu (five), original wood stand

The vase is in overall good condition with small areas of infills of wax at the foot. Other minor patches of infilling. There is rubbing to the gilding and general surface wear and 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 number of cloisonné vessels inscribed with an additional character below the reign mark, such as the wu (five) character found on the base of the present vase, is discussed by Sir Harry Garner in Chinese and Japanese Cloisonné Enamels, London, 1962, p. 92, where it is noted that the "use of characters in addition to a nian hao seems to be peculiar to cloisonné". Although the exact purpose of these characters is still unknown, scholars believe that they may have served as a way of numbering objects in large sets.

A Qianlong mark and period vase of similar form and decoration, but the lotus against a blue ground, is illustrated in Chinese Cloisonné. The Clague Collection, Phoenix, 1980, pl. 53; another of double-gourd shape, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is published in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum, Enamels, vol. 2, Cloisonné in the Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, pl. 152; and a pear-shaped vase was sold at Bonhams London, 6th November 2006, lot 196, and again at Christie’s Hong Kong, 29th May 2013, lot 2051.