A FAMILLE-ROSE VASE WITH ELEPHANT-HANDLES SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

the ovoid body decorated in refined rose enamels with scrolling stems supporting large peonies, surrounded by alternatively two and three bats hanging from stems bearing smaller blossoms and fruit, between a border of pendent lotus, and a blue florette band at the slanted shoulder, and a skirt of lappets around the base, the waisted neck flanked by two moulded elephant handles in iron-red with details in gilt, dividing on each side a floral scroll encircling a jewelled pendant hung from a soaring bat, the everted galleried rim with decorative borders, the interior and base glazed turquoise with an iron-red six-character reign mark

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 30th October 2000, lot 207.

There is a 4 cm C-shaped chip that has been restuck on the rim and smaller 2 cm attendant chip next to it with over-painting done around the entire mouth. The gilding around the mouth is re-applied. One of the elephant handles has a short firing crack on the side on the luting line. The rest of the vase is in very good condition with the enamelling intact with only a few minute flakes.
"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."

It is rare to find a Qianlong vase of this elegant shape and combination of elephant head handles and decoration and only two further examples appear to be known; see one sold in our London rooms, 14^th July 1981, lot 122; and the other also sold in our London rooms, 15^th June 1982, lot 378. The form of the vase and the design composition are similar to that found on Qianlong colour-ground vases; see a large pink-sgraffiato ground vase decorated with bats amongst lotus blooms and swirling clouds, but with archaistic dragon handles, sold at Christie's New York, 21^st March 2001, lot 280, and again in these rooms, 9^th October 2007, lot 1220; and a turquoise-ground example, painted with lotus scrolls in famille-rose enamels and with scroll handles, from the W.W. Winkworth collection, sold in our London rooms, 12^th December 1972, lot 175, and again in these rooms, 24^th May 1978, lot 253. Compare also a Jiaqing vase, with reign mark and of the period, of related form and decorated with a floral scroll and central lotus and a bat, shou character and archaic dragons on the neck, in the Huahaitang collection, included in the exhibition Ethereal Elegance. Porcelain Vases of the Imperial Qing, Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2007, cat. no.  136.

For further vases with elephant head handles see one, decorated with stylised lotus blooms and the bajixiang in famille-rose enamels on a colour ground, sold in these rooms, 20^th May 1981, lot 873, and again, 19^th May 1982, lot 342; and a blue and white vase painted with the bajixiang amongst lotus blooms sold in these rooms, 8^th October 2009, lot 1699.