A PAIR OF 'EIGHTEEN LUOHAN' IVORY VASES LATE QING DYNASTY

each of slender oval section rising from a rectangular plinth to a flaring neck, the exterior carved in high relief with nine luohan holding various attributes including a bell, fly-whisk, scroll, alms bowl, ruyi-sceptre, cymbal and miniature pagoda, accompanied by mythical creatures such as dragon, horse, Buddhist lion, tiger, deer and qilin amidst stylised clouds, the foot and the rim encircled with a keyfret border, the plinth skirted with an apron with ruyi-shaped decoration, inscribed to the base with an apocryphal four-character Zhengde mark within a square

Christie's London, 10th June 1996, lot 334.

One vase has a circa 1cm loss to one of the whiskers of the qilin, extensive dirt-filled cracks running along the rectangular plinth, around the mark at the base, and along the mouth and just under the rim of the flaring mouth. The attribute held in the luohan's hand in the middle is cracked and loose. There is a crack running around the rim of the vase and other shorter cracks (longest measuring circa 8cm) near it. The tail of the deer has a circa 0.2 x 0.2 chip at the tip. The vase also has other extensive dirt-filled cracks running vertically down the side, along the plinth and around the mark at the base.
"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."