A RARE LOBED DOUCAI JARDINIÈRE AND STAND QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

of mallow shape with deep lobed sides and a raised everted rim divided into eight foliations, supported on four feet of ruyi outline and a shallow matching stand of conforming section, each decorated on the exterior in underglaze blue and contrasting enamels with alternating yellow and iron-red petalled lotus blossoms wreathed in dense scrolling foliage, between a border of multi-coloured upright lappets around the base and a collar of pendent ruyi with gilt highlights at the shoulder, all below a blue, white and iron-red key-fret encircling the beaded rim, the latter picked out with floral sprays interspersed with lozenge motifs, edged with single fillets in iron red and blue, the interior and base glazed in pale turquoise

Sotheby’s London, 1^st/2^nd April 1974, lot 325.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 26th November 1980, lot 393.

The jardinière is pierced with an original hole in the centre for drainage. The stand have tiny fritted areas on the indentations around the rim edge, there is some expected light wear and rubbing to the turquoise glaze on the interior, but apart from this and overall the condition of the jardinière and stand is extremely good.
"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."

A pair of jardinières and stands of this type was sold at Christie’s London, 16^th November 1999, lot 249; and a famille rose and underglaze blue example is published in Kangxi. Yongzheng. Qianlong. Qing Porcelain from the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1989, p. 345, pl. 26. Qianlong vessels of this type, with a bulb bowl and matching stand that are similarly decorated with ornate floral scroll patterns, are known in a variety of shapes and coloured grounds; see several examples from the Nanjing Museum, Nanjing, illustrated in The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, pp 246-261.

This group of jardinières with matching stands may have been inspired by Jun examples attributed to the Yuan and early Ming dynasties; for example see a hexalobed flower pot with matching stand sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30^th May 2012, lot 3876. Further examples of Jun flower pots and stands of various forms are illustrated in A Panorama of Ceramics in the Collection of the National Palace Museum. Chun Ware, Taipei, 1999, pls 17-47.