Page 54 - 2020 September Fine Chinese Paintings and Works of Art, Bonham NYC

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A RARE IMPERIAL GILT-LACQUERED BRONZE
‘PHOENIX’ VASE
Qianlong mark and of the period The quality of the casting on this vase is superb. The design of the
Of square-sectioned baluster form, each side of the body crisply cast phoenix stands out crisply from the background and the overlapping
with a panel depicting a phoenix with long scrolling tail feathers and tail feathers and scrolling leaves provide an added sense of depth. The
outstretched wings amid scrolling acanthus leaves and four large scrolling acanthus leaves hint at a Western influence and it has been
peony blossoms, the design without peony blossoms repeated on the surmised that such vases were made for the Western-style buildings in
waisted neck set between keyfret borders below the galleried rim cast the Summer Palace.
with a classic scroll, flanked by a pair of angular zoomorphic handles
suspending loose rectangular rings over the broad angular shoulders This idea is supported by a vase of almost identical design which,
cast with ruyi lappets, the lower section of the vase cast with a band as part of a pair with a Qianlong mark and period vase with dragon
of pendant cicada lappets between cloud-scroll and keyfret bands and decoration, was sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 10 April 2006, lot 1537,
made to resemble a pedestal foot resting on a stepped rectangular and again on 9th October 2007, lot 1322-- it bore a later engraving
plinth, cast with C-scrolls on the lower step and a classic scroll on the with the date 1860 to memorialize their removal from the Summer
upper step interrupted on one side by a rectangular panel enclosing Palace.
the six-character Da Qing Qianlong nian zao mark, the surfaces with
remnants of gilt-lacquer. A Qianlong mark and period vase of circular section with dragon
16 3/8in (41.5cm) high decoration was sold at Christie’s London, 5 December 2019, lot 100.
That example is similar to the present example in that the lower section
$70,000 - 100,000 is cast to resemble a pedestal foot resting on a stepped plinth and
similarly decorated with cicada lappets, classic scroll and C-scrolls.
清乾隆 銅漆金鑄鳳穿牡丹紋夔鳳活環耳方瓶
《大清乾隆年造》款

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