A RARE TURQUOISE-GROUND ENAMELED 'LINGZHI' VASE YONGZHENG MARK AND PERIOD

the slender ovoid body surmounted by a tall, gently waisted neck with a flared rim, enameled on one side in rich ruby colors with a lingzhi spray, the gnarled stalks each with a naturalistic splayed head painted in shaded tones of purple, aubergine, pale orange and yellow with penciled line details, all reserved on an even turquoise enamel ground, six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle

Sir Frederick Bruce, G.C.B. (1814-1867).
Robert C. Bruce Collection, Sotheby's London, 12th May 1953, lot 143.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8th-9th November 1982, lot 220.

Oriental Ceramic Society 'Exhibition of Enamelled Polychrome Porcelain of the Manchu Dynasty', London 1951, Catalogue no. 152.

Soame Jenyns, Later Chinese Porcelain, pl. LV, fig.1.
M. Mattos dos Santos, Las Marcas, Les Marques, The Marks, in color, p. 141 together with a detail showing the reign mark.

Almost half of the rim has been restored, with overpainting around the mouth and halfway down one side of the neck. There is a horizontal band of fine scratching around the body and some other scattered scratches below the shoulders.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.