A MOULDED GOURD WATER VESSEL, PALACE WORKSHOPS SHANGWAN MARK AND PERIOD OF KANGXI

the globular body of hexalobed form, each lobe moulded with a shou medallion wreathed by leafy scrolls between a lotus flower and a band of foliate scrolls encircling the rim, the mouth set with black-stained bone, the naturally formed underside moulded with the four-character mark Kangxi Shangwan ('Appreciated by the Kangxi Emperor') 

Christie's London, 15th May 2007, lot 87.

The overall condition is quite good, There are a few radiating age cracks extending from the mouthrim and some rubbing to the black pigment applied on the mouthrim.
"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."

While a number of moulded gourd vessels are known from the Qing Imperial collection, this waterpot appears to be the only recorded example of this unusual hexalobed form.  An octagonal water vessel with moulded decoration depicting Daoist immortals was included in the exhibition Arts from the Scholar's Studio, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1986, p. 196, cat. no. 173, where it is noted that the Daoist symbolism of the gourd is enhanced by the images of the 'Eight Inebriated Immortals' found on the vessel. See also a compressed hexagonal vessel, made from a small single-belly gourd incorporating the stalk, each facet fashioned with two characters representing the yang musical tones, sold in these rooms, 8th October 2010, lot 2246.

Further compare an octagonal gourd vessel moulded with a poem in seal script illustrated in Wang Shixiang, 'Moulded gourds', Gugong Bowuyuan yuankan, 1979, no. 1, translated by Craig Clunas in Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society, no. 10, London, 1981, fig. 13 left; and another, from the collection of Ip Yee published in Gerard Tsang and Hugh Moss, 'Chinese decorated gourds', International Asian Antiques Fair, Hong Kong, 1983, p. 55, pl. 9.

The shou character on this waterpot appears on a number of related gourd examples; see an octagonal gourd brushpot decorated with bats encircling a shou character on each of the main sides, sold in these rooms, 8th October 2009, lot 1806; a bowl in the Fuller Memorial collection, Seattle Art Museum, published in J.M. Addis, 'Impressed gourds', Oriental Art, vol. X, Spring, 1964, p. 28, fig. 2; and another bowl with a Kangxi reign mark and of the period, from the collection of Mary and George Bloch, sold in these rooms, 23rd October 2005, lot 76.