A RARE FAUX-BOIS JARDINIERE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG

THIS IS A PREMIUM LOT. CLIENTS WHO WISH TO BID ON PREMIUM LOTS MAY BE REQUESTED BY SOTHEBY'S TO COMPLETE THE PRE-REGISTRATION APPLICATION FORM AND TO DELIVER TO SOTHEBY'S A DEPOSIT OF HK$1,000,000, OR SUCH OTHER HIGHER AMOUNT AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY SOTHEBY'S, AND ANY FINANCIAL REFERENCES, GUARANTEES AND/OR SUCH OTHER SECURITY AS SOTHEBY'S MAY REQUIRE IN ITS ABSOLUTE DISCRETION AS SECURITY FOR THEIR BID. THE BIDnow ONLINE BIDDING SERVICE IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR PREMIUM LOTS.



realistically rendered, the deep tapering sides of the vessel shaped and painted like a wooden tub formed of vertical planks, painted in different tones of reddish brown simulating wooden planks with concentric knots and grain, held together with two plaited bands of 'rope' carved in relief  and painted in yellow with brown lines, and lined on the interior with rectangular patches of yellow 'oilcloth' sewn together,  faithfully rendered by raised knobbly lines irregularly arranged at right angles to simulate the seams, the base left white and inscribed with a six-character reign mark in underglaze blue

J.J. Lally & Co., New York.

Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 4, no. 1836.

Apart from light wear to the iron-red enamelling of the painted wood areas, some fritting to the yellow rope and light wear to the yellow on the interior, the overall condition is very good. The interior has a few dark spots from dirt that has rubbed into the body.
"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."

This tub with its sewn lining is one of the most realistically rendered faux-bois items recorded. The vessel is shaped and painted like a wide wooden tub formed of vertical planks, tied with plaited bands of rope, and lined with yellow oilcloth sewn together from rectangular patches. The latter feature is particularly rare.

A very similar tub, also with yellow enamel inside, but lacking the naturalistic evocation of sewn seams, was sold in these rooms, 22nd May 1979, lot 242. Two other similar Yongzheng faux-bois tubs, raised on four feet, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, and the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, both have a plain white inside; see Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong. Qing Porcelain from the Palace Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1989, p. 317, pl. 146; and Gugong Qing ci tulu. Kangxi yao, Yongzheng yao/Illustrated Catalogue of Ch'ing Dynasty Porcelain in the National Palace Museum, Republic of China: K'ang-hsi Ware and Yung-cheng Ware, Tokyo, 1980, pl. 97. Faux-bois tubs are also found without reign mark, such as another piece from the Meiyintang collection, included in the exhibition China. The Three Emperors 1662-1795, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2005-6, cat. no. 235, and illustrated in Krahl, op.cit., vol. 2, no. 947.