Page 109 - Bonhams Chinese Art London May 2013

Whilst elegantly-enamelled scrollwork combining
the auspicious symbols of lotus, pendent Buddhist
symbols and bats is a well-known Imperial style
prevalent in the Qianlong and succeeding Jiaqing
periods, it is very unusual to see a deep blue-
ground example of such work. This unusual
palette and the evenly-spaced overall design
complements the bold, simple form of the vase,
with a strong shoulder and straight sides.
For a Jiaqing mark and period vase of similar
shape, but with underglaze blue against a yellow-
ground, see P.Lam, Ethereal Elegance: Porcelain
Vases of the Imperial Qing: The Huaihaitang
Collection, Hong Kong, 2007, no.117, and for
other examples of related scrollwork design,
see The Complete Collection of Treasures of
the Palace Museum: Porcelains with Cloisonné
Enamel Decoration and Famille Rose Decoration,
Hong Kong, 1999, nos.166 and 173, both with
a Jiaqing mark and of the period. A related vase,
also Jiaqing seal mark and of the period and with
a similar blue ground, but with the neck severely
reduced, sold at Christie’s London, 12 May 2009,
lot 172. Compare also a pink-ground Jiaqing mark
and period vase sold in these rooms, 8 November
2012, lot 81, and two lime-green-ground vases
with related scrollwork design, Jiaqing marks and
of the period, sold in these rooms, 12 May 2011,
lots 349 and 350.

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