A RARE CELADON-GLAZED 'LOTUS' TAZZA QIANLONG SEAL MARK AND PERIOD

the shallow rounded sides rising from a high splayed foot to a wide everted rim, moulded to the interior with a flowerhead with radiating pointy petals encircled by four lotus blooms borne on feathery leaves below linked ruyi heads, the rim with further undulating lotus scrolls, repeated in the exterior, the foot skirted with pendent plantain leaves, covered overall in a pale sea-green glaze, the base with a six-character Qianlong seal mark

Collection of Stanley E. Lutomski.

In very good condition; minute firing imperfections and minor general wear to the unglazed foot ring.
"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."

The present finely moulded tazza is a rare example of vessels of this type with no other similar piece recorded. Its shape appears to be inspired by earlier, Yongzheng period, shallow dishes resting on a splayed foot with both the interior and exterior incised with stylized blooms rising from leafy stems. For a Yongzheng tazza see one from the Percival David Foundation and now in the British Museum, London, included in the exhibition Elegant Form and Harmonious Decoration, The Percival David Foundation, London, 1992, cat. no. 148; and another sold in our New York rooms, 22^nd March 2000, lot 123.

Qianlong tazzas covered in celadon glaze with moulded decoration are more frequently found in the form of a shallow bowl with straight sides and slightly flaring rim supported by a low splayed stem, such as the piece sold in our New York rooms, 28^th October 1976, lot 270; and another sodl at Christie's Hong Kong 27^th May 2009, lot 1891. See also a pair of Qianlong celadon-glazed dishes of smaller proportions, each with a broad flat base and shallow tapering straight sides rising from a slightly splayed foot, and with moulded decoration on the interior, from the collection of E.T. Hall, sold at Christie's London, 7^th June 2004, lot 246. Another similar vessel is illustrated in Ireneus Laszlo Legeza, The Malcolm Macdonald Collection of Chinese Ceramics, London, 1972, pl. 106, no. 283.

The deep celadon glaze of this tazza is reminiscent of Longquan wares of the Southern Song dynasty. The Longquan kilns in Zhejiang province were renowned for producing wares covered with a glaze of similar thick opaque quality.  The impressed six-character Qianlong mark on the base is also unusual and rarely found on small vessels of this type. It is a mark frequently used on monochrome wares inspired by the official wares of the Song dynasty.  Qianlong's fondness for archaism and ancient wares is clearly expressed in this tazza.