A FINE AND RARE LIME-GREEN ENAMELLED CUP MARK AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG |

with delicately potted rounded sides supported on a short foot, the exterior superbly covered in a lime-green enamel, the interior and base left white, the latter inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within a circle

The cup is in very fine condition with only a couple of insignificant pinpricks at the rim.
"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."

Lime-green is among the rarest enamel colours used in the Yongzheng period and monochrome vessels of this type, deceptively simple in form and colour, represent one of the most technically challenging porcelains to be produced as it required the utmost precision in every stage of their production. Compare three very similar examples from the collection of Hon. Mountstuart William Elphinstone, now in the Sir Percival David Collection in the British Museum, London, the first published in Margaret Medley, Illustrated Catalogue of Ming and Ch'ing Monochrome in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1973, cat. no. B526; and a slightly larger pair, with the reign marks inscribed within double circles, published on the Museum’s website, accession nos PDF, B.524 and 525, the former illustrated in Rosemary E. Scott, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1989, pl. 97 bottom, second from right. Compare another lime-green enamelled cup, potted with deeper sides, offered in this sale, lot 3105.

Cups of this charming hemispherical form were also covered in various enamels in the Yongzheng period, including lemon-yellow, rose-pink, and even turquoise. See two related examples with the reign marks similarly inscribed within single circles; the first vibrantly covered on the exterior in a pink enamel and decorated on the interior with fruits; the second enamelled turquoise-blue on the exterior, respectively sold in these rooms, 4th April 2012, lots 1 and 2, from the Meiyintang collection.