An Exceptional Pair of Imperial Cloisonné Enamel Candlesticks Marks and Period of Qianlong, Dated in Accordance with 1786

each with a stepped base with a domed centre, rising to a knopped shaft supporting a dish tray, the tall bulbous neck surmounted by a smaller tray fitted with a metal pricket, the base, underside of the dish tray and neck brightly enamelled against a turquoise ground with stylised lotus and composite floral scrolls, all divided by lappets, plantain leaves and ruyi bands, the exterior of the dish tray decorated with pairs of florets on tumultuous foaming green waves, the interior inscribed with an imperial poem written in lishu ('clerical script') dated to the bingwu year of the Qianlong reign (corresponding to 1786) reserved on a ground of foliate scrolls, all encircled by a composite floral band, the top tray similarly decorated to the exterior with a composite floral scroll below ruyi heads and the interior with bands of blue, green and yellow ruyi cloud scrolls, engraved to the base with a four-character reign mark within a double-square

An Irish Private Collection, purchased in 1968, thence by descent.
The O’Rourke-Palmer Estate.

The candlesticks are in overall good condition. The enamels are particularly brilliant and well preserved, and have been accurately captured in the catalogue photos. As expected of the period, there is typical pitting to the surface of the enamels and small enamel losses, as expected of the period. There is general rubbing to the gilding, especially at the mouth rim and the underside. There is other minor surface wear, insignificant dentsand scratches. The metal prickets are slightly loose.
"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."

Magnificently decorated with varying bands of decoration and colour combinations, candlesticks of this type are extremely rare and only one related pair appears to be known, attributed to the Yongzheng period and sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 31st May 2010, lot 1879. The Yongzheng version is considerably smaller at 14 cm in height, and is constructed with a narrower central shaft. While it shares some of the design elements, the lotus scroll adorning the drip pan has been replaced with an imperial inscription on the present pair. The poem was composed by the Qianlong Emperor in the bingwu year of his reign (corresponding to 1786) and is recorded in Text from the Anthology of Qianlong Poems (Qing gaozong yuzhi shi wen quanji. Le shan tang ding ben), juan 5:29. It expresses his appreciation of a Khotan jade washer carved with a Han-style double fish motif. A pair of candlesticks of related form but different decoration, was included in the exhibition Chinesisches Cloisonné die Sammlung Pierre Uldry, Museum Reitberg, Zurich, 1985, cat. no. 280.

Candlesticks of this form and decoration are known in blue and white porcelain, also with a Qianlong reign mark and of the period; one, inscribed with a poem dated to the jiazi year of Qianlong (corresponding to 1744), in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, was included in the Museum’s Special Exhibition of K’ang-hsi, Yung-cheng and Ch’ien-lung Porcelain Ware from the Ch’ing Dynasty, 1986, cat. no. 141; another is illustrated in Alexander J. Pope, Porcelains in the Frick Collection, New York, 1974, pl. 65.8-144; and a third example was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30th May 2006, lot 1280. Further Qianlong porcelain candlesticks of this form, but lacking the inscription, include one included in the Oriental Ceramic Society Exhibition of Blue and White Porcelain, London, 1954, cat. no. 310, and sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30th October 1995, lot 781.

The large size of this pair of candlesticks is cleverly offset by the unusual and delicate band of flower blooms on crashing waves, a motif that illustrates the famous Chinese idiom luo hua liu shui (fallen flower, flowing water) which refers to the passing of seasons. It is known from the Chenghua period, such as a doucai bowl included in the exhibition A Legacy of Chenghua. Imperial Porcelain of the Chenghua Reign Excavated from Zhushan, Jingdezhen, The Tsui Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1993, cat. no. C91, where it is noted that this scene is thought to have derived from designs on brocaded silk during the reign of Tianshun (r. 1457-64), which came into court during the Chenghua period. Its popularity on dresses for court ladies saw it enter the official porcelain decorative repertoire. The design continued to adorn porcelain in the Qing dynasty, as seen on a famille-verte bowl of the Kangxi period, in the Shanghai Museum, included in Chugoku toji zenshu [Complete book of Chinese ceramics], vol. 21, Kyoto, 1981, pl. 62; and a moonflask attributed to the Yongzheng period, from the collection of Sir Percival David and now in the British Museum, London, included in the exhibition Imperial Taste. Chinese Ceramics from the Percival David Foundation, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, 1989, cat. no. 45. The flowers on the porcelain candlesticks are similar to that of the Chenghua bowl, while those on the present candlesticks are closer in style to the more ornate Qing versions.