A FINE AND LARGE BLUE AND WHITE 'LOTUS SCROLL' VASE, HU SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

robustly potted with a pear-shaped body rising from a splayed foot to a waisted neck, flanked by a pair of archaistic scroll handles, the exterior boldly painted in rich cobalt-blue tones with large stylised lotus blooms borne on a leafy meander, all between ruyi and lappet bands, the neck encircled by a band of shou character roundels reserved on a trellis ground below a keyfret border, the foot skirted with a classic scroll band, inscribed to the base with a six-character seal mark

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 26th November 1980, lot 288.

It is in overall very good condition with only some minute spots of glaze wear to the edges of the handles.
"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."

Stately in form and design, this vase is impressive for its large size which has been flawlessly potted and covered in finely executed motifs. It represents the Qianlong style in its amalgamation of influences which draw from Ming ceramic patterns that have been adapted to contemporary taste, as well as textiles and archaic bronzes. The decoration is also notable for the brilliance of the blue cobalt, which reflects the high standard of resources available to the potters who excelled in both technical and creative capabilities. 

The creation of this hu demanded considerable expertise and the potter has borrowed extensively from archaic styles and forms while creating a piece that is both steeped in tradition yet innovative. The handles are also inspired by the animal handles of the Zhou period but have been abstracted to a mere silhouette of the original, thus endowing the vessel with a sense of contemporaneity.

This large form was first transposed from bronze into porcelain during the preceding Yongzheng period under the guidance of China’s most famous Superintendent of the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen, Tang Ying (1682-1756), who served both the Yongzheng and Qianlong Emperors. Encouraged to look to archaic forms and designs for inspiration, this trend for archaism continued to flourish throughout the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, who was also a great connoisseur and collector of bronzes, jades and works of art.

Particularly notable on this vase are the large stylised lotus blooms tucked within dense C-scrolls and the band of shou characters encircling the neck. More commonly rendered in the ‘heaped and piled’ technique to mimic early Ming blue and white wares, the present design has replaced the thin, delicate scrolls and flowers with a much thicker, bold design to result in an intensity that accentuates the robustness of the vessel. This effect is heightened by the broad band of shou medallions on a diaper ground, which has clearly been inspired by textile designs; see a large embroidered shou wall panel included in the exhibition China: The Three Emperors 1662-1795, The Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2005, cat. no. 303. The dexterity of the craftsman is evident in the arrangement of the composition, where the negative space has been treated as crucial to the overall design in successfully creating a sense of splendour.

A closely related vase in the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, is illustrated in Selected Ceramics from the Collection of Mr and Mrs J.M. Hu, Shanghai, 1989, pl. 62; another is included in Geng Baochang, Ming Qing ciqi jianding [Appraisal of Ming and Qing porcelain], Hong Kong, 1993, pl. 455; one of a pair from the T.Y. Chao collection, sold in these rooms, 19th May 1987, lot 272, was included in the exhibition Ch’ing Porcelain from the Wah Kwong Collection, Art Gallery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1973, cat. no. 68; another, from the collection of Marchese Giuseppe Salvago Raggi, was sold in our London rooms, 16th May 2012, lot 129.