Page 218 - 2019 October Important Chinese Art Sotheby's Hong Kong

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A MAGNIFICENT LARGE CLOISONNE ENAMEL 清乾隆
‘LOTUS’ VASE 掐絲琺瑯如意蓮紋雙龍活環耳尊
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD
the baluster body rising from a splayed foot to a waisted 來源：
neck, flanked by a pair of loop handles issuing from gilt- 倫敦佳士得2007年5月15日，編號163
bronze archaistic dragon masks suspending loose rings, the 歐洲私人收藏
body bright decorated against a turquoise ground with large 香港佳士得2013年5月29日，編號2071
lotus blooms amongst interlocking foliate strapwork, below
pendent ruyi-shaped lappets enclosing flying bats, the neck
similarly decorated with lotus scrolls below stylised ruyi
lappets, all divided by a band of kui dragon scrolls encircling
the shoulder, above pendent ruyi lappets and foliate motifs
along the foot, the rim and foot gilt and incised with keyfret
41.3 cm, 16¼ in.
PROVENANCE
Christie’s London, 15th May 2007, lot 163.
A European private collection.
Christie’s Hong Kong, 29th May 2013, lot 2071.

HK$ 700,000-900,000
US$ 89,500-115,000

The archaistic form and stylised chilong on this superbly the overall symmetrical composition and floral blooms are
enamelled vase encapsulates the Qianlong Emperor’s rendered in the typical Ming style, but the depiction of leaves
reverence for antiquity. The enamelled decoration is rich and ‘C’ scrolls on the present vase is more closely related to
and vivid; the striking decoration of a pair of handles issuing European Baroque foliate scrolls that gained popularity in
from taotie masks is particularly powerful and of high quality. the Qing court.
Vases of this shape have their roots in archaic ritual bronze Compare Qianlong vases of this type, but with varying
hu vessels. However, the Qing craftsmen added their own handles, such as a larger pair said to have been made as
design elements and made liberal changes to the prototype, part of a set of tableware used by the Qianlong Emperor
thus creating pieces that were contemporary and unique.
for formal banquets, illustrated in Chuimei Ho and Bennet
The Qianlong Emperor was an avid collector of objects that Bronson, Splendors of China’s Forbidden City. The Glorious
were modelled after relics from antiquity, so pieces such as Reign of Emperor Qianlong, London, 2004, pl. 244. Compare
this vase would have satisfied his idiosyncratic taste for the also a Qianlong period cloisonné enamel vase decorated
old and new. The return to archaistic designs highlights the with lotus flowers, from the Qing court collection and still in
Qing emperors’ desire to be aligned with the past and thus Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of
reaffirm their legitimacy to the Chinese throne. The form the Palace Museum. Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong,
is based on the archaic bronze hu ritual vessel, a form that 2002, pl. 96.
was revived in ceramic wares during the Song period. While

216 SOTHEBY ’S IMPORTANT CHINESE ART