Vase bouteille en porcelaine de la Famille Rose à décor sgraffiato sur fond vert pâle Marque en cachet et époque Qianlong | 清乾隆 淺綠地粉彩錦上添花長頸膽瓶 《大清乾隆年製》款 | A green-ground Famille Rose Sgraffiato bottle vase, seal mark and period of Qianlong

Coated in an light apple-green glaze, this bottle vase is special for its restrained and uncluttered design of vibrantly coloured floral sprays. While its colour scheme, pattern and use of the subtle sgraffiato ground are well-rooted in the exuberant porcelain style developed in the 18^th century, the sparsely scattered sprays are an innovation and evidence an attempt at reducing decorative elements to achieve a balanced and refined design.

Compare a bottle vase of this type was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 20^th March 1990, lot 798; and a slightly larger example sold at Christie’s New York, 21^st September 2000, lot 411. See also a much larger vase with a similar colour scheme and design, but also with butterflies, and lacking the sgraffiato ground, sold at Christie’s New York, 15^th September 2011, lot 1663.