A RARE CLOISONNE ENAMEL VASE JINGTAI NIAN ZHI MARK, QING DYNASTY, YONGZHENG PERIOD

the well cast ovoid body finely decorated in bright, rich cloisonné enamels with two Buddhist lions each playing with a brocade ball below the bajixiang emblems, all between borders of lotus lappets, the shoulder flanked by two ferocious dragons surrounded by scrolling flames, with further scroll borders alternating with gilt scroll bands and two confronting phoenix, the mouth delicately incised with scrolling lotus blooms, the base engraved with the four-character Jingtai Nian zhi mark  

T.B. Kitson Collection.
Sotheby's London, 21st February 1961, lot 269.
Sothebys's London, 9th June 1992, lot 31.

This vase is in very good overall condition with strong gilding remaining on the cloisons. The gold mouth rim has tiny scratches and one bumpy surface at the edge. One of the dragons has two tiny areas of glue, gilt over, likely to restore or reinforce more vulnerable sections of the figure. The colors, particularly the blue and green, are less saturated than the catalogue image suggests.
"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."

Qing vessels of this form and ornate decoration are inspired by cloisonné vessels of the Jingtai period of the Ming dynasty. Although Yongzheng examples are rare a closely related vase, with a four-character Yongzheng reign mark and of the period, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is illustrated in Enamel Ware in the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties, Taipei, 1999, pl. 98. Compare also a small painted enamel vase of this shape with related gilt dragon decoration at the shoulder, the applied gilt engraved with the four-character mark of the Yongzheng emperor and of the period, included in Michael Gillingham, Chinese Painted Enamel, Oxford, 1978, pl. 34.   

The Jingtai emperor was especially fond of mounted gilt-bronze decoration on cloisonné vessels; for example see a vase of very similar form to the present vase, also mounted with lions at play in gilt-bronze, with a four-character Jingtai reign mark on its base, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 35. Another Jingtai vase of related shape decorated with the lotus scroll motif and mounted with playing Buddhist lions below the neck and around the body, is included ibid., pl. 36; and a third example of a Jingtai cloisonne flower vessel of different form, but with lavish mounted decoration, in the National Palace Museum is published op.cit., Taipei, 1999, pl. 3.

Cloisonné vases of this ovoid body and unusual everted-rim mouth were made in the early Ming period; see a vase, from the collection of Mrs. J.M. Hanbury, sold in our London rooms, 2nd July 1968, lot 48, of this form but without the mounted decoration.

Vessels of this type remained popular and related examples continued being made throughout the Qing dynasty. See a later Qing example, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, included in Zhongguo meishu fenlei quanji. Zhongguo jinying poli falanqi quanji, vol. 6, Shijiazhuang, 2002, pl. 284.