清乾隆 掐絲琺瑯仿古夔龍紋提樑蓋卣

of archaistic you form, the pear-shaped body cast supported on a splayed foot, the tapering neck flanked by a pair of gilt-bronze animal mask loop handles with a movable long handle decorated in multi-coloured cloisonné enamels with scrollwork, the bulging body decorated with two pairs of stylised kui dragons, below a frieze enclosing two taotie masks, the splayed foot bordered with two pairs of kui dragons with writhing angular scroll bodies repeated at the flaring sides of the domed cover, the convex top of the cover enamelled with four lotus blooms alternating with four stylised characters, surrounding a central gilt-bronze finial modelled as a mythical beast, all the designs outlined and accentuated with gilt-bronze borders and reserved against a bright turquoise ground

《Oriental Works of Art》，The Oriental Art Gallery，倫敦，1992年，編號36

Good condition, with just areas of infilling and wax to the surface, and other minor 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."

This vase is charming for its small size as vases of this you shape are more commonly known of larger size; see one in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Enamel Ware in the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties, Taipei, 1999, pl. 63; two in the National Palace Museum, Beijing, published in Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum, Enamels, vol. 4, Cloisonné in the Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2011, pls. 88 and 89; another, illustrated in Dr Gunhild Gabbert Avitabile, Die Ware aus dem Teufelsland, Hannover, 1981, pl. 81.

This vase is modelled after archaic bronze you vessels made during the Shang dynasty, a shape that was reproduced in a variety of media from the Song dynasty onwards, when drawings of original examples started appearing on woodblock printed books. See for example a line drawing of an archaic you vessel, in a Ming dynasty reprint from a Song dynasty illustrated book of the Zhida reign (1308-11), in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the Museum's exhibition Through the Prism of the Past. Antiquarian Trends in Chinese Art of the 16th to 18th Century, Taipei, 2003, cat. no. II-05.