AN INSCRIBED BLUE AND WHITE 'FLORAL' BRUSHPOT QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

each side decorated with a raised square panel depicting gnarled branches of prunus, peony, peach blossoms and chrysanthemum respectively, all below a raised medallion enclosing a poem pertaining to the flowers, followed by two seals reading qian and long

The brushpot is in good condition with only a few imperfections in the glaze, including few iron spots to the interior and a few minor speckles to the exterior.
"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."

Brushpots of various forms, featuring poems and motifs rendered in a painterly manner, are marvels of the Qianlong period (r. 1736-1795). Such vessels represented not only the emperor’s predilection for novelties of idiosyncratic forms and designs, but also his appreciation for scholarship. They provided inspirations for a wide-range of ceramic interpretations for several subsequent generations, including the present piece. See a hexagonal brushpot decorated with alternating sides of floral scenes and inscription, formerly from the Edward T. Chow collection, sold in these rooms, 8th October 2013, lot 3033. The poem adorning this vessel is recorded in Yuzhi leshan tang quanji dingben [Definitive edition of the complete works from the delight in Goodness Hall, by His Majesty], Siku quanshu ed., vol. 28. It was composed by the Qianlong Emperor to express his admiration of a set of twelve paintings of flowers by renowned artist Zou Yigui(c. 1686-1772); see an album consisting of sixteen illustrations of flowers of related style, from the Roy and Marilyn Papp Collection, sold in our New York rooms, 14th September 2016, lot 598.