A RARE TURQUOISE-GROUND FAMILLE-ROSE 'FLOWER SCROLLS' TEAPOT AND COVER SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF JIAQING

the finely potted ovoid body rising to a short tapered neck, the body set to one side with a large loop handle and to the other with an elegant S-shaped spout, brightly enamelled in the famille-rose palette and gilt overall with leafy scrolls bearing stylised lotus blossoms, a stylised iron-red bat depicted with outstretched wings on both sides suspending a lingzhi bloom, all against an even turquoise ground, a border of ruyi blooms alternating with and trefoi motifs encircling the neck decorated with a 'classic' scroll, all above a border of upright petal border and a dotted band encircling the foot, the recessed turquoise base inscribed in gilt with a six-character seal mark against a white cartouche, the domed cover similarly decorated and surmounted by a bud finial decorated with a floret, the interior similarly enamelled turquoise

A private Japanese collection, formed in the 1960s-1970s.
Sotheby's London, 14th May 2008, lot 717.

Taji Shuichi, Porcelain of the Ch'ing Dynasty, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 59.

The teapot is in very good overall condition with the exception of a tiny restored chip to the underside of the tip of the spout, a glaze crackle to the base of the handle, as well as minor glaze scratches and light rubbing to the gilding especially to the rim and cover.
"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."

A similar teapot was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 1st November 1974, lot 331. See also a teapot similarly decorated on an apple-green ground, sold at Christie's London, 14th July 1980, lot 253. Compare two turquoise-ground teapots of a more globular form decorated with a variation of the lotus scroll motif sold in these rooms, 20th March 1978, lot 219; and one at Christie's Hong Kong, 2nd November 1999, lot 572.

For further examples of colour-ground Jiaqing teapots of varying forms and decoration, see a pink-ground version sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 5th November 1997, lot 1568; a yellow ground teapot sold at Christie's London, 16th April 1980, lot 93; and another at Christie's Hong Kong, 17th January 1989, lot 700. A teapot with inscription on a coral ground was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27th April 1997, lot 56, and again in these rooms, 20th June 2001, lot 39; one on a green-ground was sold in these rooms, 6th December 1994, lot 212; and two were sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1st November 2004, lot 922, and 30th May 2006, lot 1465.