A FINE AND RARE LARGE TURQUOISE-GROUND 'BAJIXIANG' CLOISONNE-IMITATION VASE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

robustly potted with an ovoid body rising from a tall splayed foot to a tall waisted neck and a galleried mouth-rim, the neck flanked by a pair of iron-red ruyi sceptre handles, the body boldly enamelled in vibrant colours against a turquoise ground with the bajixiang ('Eight Buddhist Emblems'), each emblem depicted beribboned, interspersed with scattered sprigs of lotus and hibiscus, the neck similarly decorated with a lotus meander above upright plantain leaves collaring the the neck, the foot encircled with interlinked stylised acanthus leaves and a keyfret border, with details skilfully outlined in gilt, the interior and base enamelled turquoise, the latter inscribed in gilt with a six-character seal mark

Collection of Alfred Morrison (1821-1897), Fonthill House, Tisbury, Wiltshire, probably acquired in 1861 from Lord Loch of Drylaw (1827-1900).
Collection of the Rt. Hon Lord Margadale of Islay, T.D.
Christie's London, 18th October 1971, lot 82.
Jen Chai Art Gallery, New York, no. A532 (one of the gallery labels of J.T. Tai & Co.).
Collection of J.T. Tai.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 7th October 2010, lot 2132.

The overall condition is very good with only some insignificant scratches to the surface and a tiny area of loss to the enamelling. The gilding around the mouth has been rubbed, but the gilding on the body remains quite intact.
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. Illustrations in the catalogue may not be actual size. Prospective purchasers are reminded that, unless the catalogue description specifically states that a stone is natural, we have assumed that some form of treatment may have been used and that such treatment may not be permanent. Our presale estimates reflect this assumption.Certificates of Authenticity: Various manufacturers may not issue certificates of authenticity upon request. Sotheby's is not under an obligation to furnish the purchaser with a certificate of authenticity from the manufacturer at any time. Unless the requirements for a rescission of the sale under the Terms of Guarantee are satisfied, the failure of a manufacturer to issue a certificate will not constitute grounds to rescind the sale. Gemological Certificates and Reports: References in the catalogue descriptions to certificates or reports issued by gemological laboratories are provided only for the information of bidders, and Sotheby's does not guarantee and accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, terms or information contained in such certificates or reports. Please also note that laboratories may differ in their assessment of a gemstone (including its origin and presence, type and extent of treatments) and their certificates or reports may contain different results.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.

Painted Cloisons of East and West

This magnificent vase belongs to a group of vessels commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor which was created to imitate cloisonné enamel. The Qianlong Emperor was particularly fond of cloisonné work which he revived on a grand scale after a period of disregard under the Yongzheng Emperor. He had it imitated not only in porcelain, like on the present piece, but even in copper, where the wires separating the cloisons of different enamels were mirrored by finely painted golden lines. Although the idea of imitating other materials through porcelain had existed well-before the eighteenth century, the craftsmen of the Qianlong period advanced the technique to a completely different level of perfection, sometimes creating pieces that were difficult to distinguish from the actual medium they were simulating. The painter of the present piece has successfully imitated the effect of gilt wires by outlining the famille-rose enamelled pattern in gilt, the linearity of which creates a pleasing contrast with the sculptural ruyi handles.

While in its colour scheme the present vase imitates cloisonné metalwork, stylistically it stands in the plain tradition of yangcai porcelain with its dense overall floral designs on a coloured ground. The term ‘yangcai’, used by the Emperor himself, acknowledges the exchanges between China and the West, seen here in particular in the bajixiang that are interspersed among Western-style floral compositions. Furthermore, the design is rendered in tones created through the use of white enamel which was first introduced to the Qing court by Jesuit artists and, after repeated experiments, were successfully copied by imperial craftsmen. Particularly unusual is the asymmetrical irregular pattern whose admirable organisation nevertheless conveys the impression of a formally organised design. It is composed of flower sprays, which are loosely strewn all over the body, but so evenly spaced over the surface that any clusters or gaps are avoided. The thin golden outlines confining the vibrant enamels are a brilliant means to make the colours stand out against the turquoise ground.

The appearance of ruyi sceptres as handles on vases was clearly a response to the Qianlong Emperor's infatuation with these portents of good fortune, which during his reign were produced by the thousands in all possible materials. Although ruyi sceptres as well as the bajixiang included in the decoration were originally symbols with Buddhist connotation, by the Qianlong period they had become general auspicious emblems and can even be found in combination with Daoist symbols.

Compare three related vases in the Palace Museum, Beijing, from the Qing court collection: one of gourd shape without handles, similarly decorated with loosely strewn flower sprays in cloisonné style, but lacking the bajixiang and bearing a red seal mark; another of simpler bottle form with different handles, decorated with flower scrolls in cloisonné style and bearing a similar mark in gold; and a third with similar ruyi handles but decorated with flower scrolls without golden outlines on a turquoise ground, all illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelains with Cloisonné Enamel Decoration and Famille-Rose Decoration, Hong Kong, 1999, pls 115, 119 and 118. Further large vases belonging to this group, of various forms and decoration, include one enamelled with bats among clouds and flower sprays, flanked by a pair of archaistic dragon handles, sold in these rooms, 8th October 2013, lot 201 (fig. 1); another also painted with bats and clouds, sold in our London rooms, 10th December 1991, lot 318; and another, depicting bats amongst foliate flower scrolls and iron-red monster mask handles, sold three times in these rooms, 14th November 1989, lot 309, 2nd May 2000, lot 644, and 8th April 2010, lot 1852.

The piece is vaguely reminiscent of a cloisonné vase from the Qing court collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 167, which may, however, postdate the present piece. For vases decorated in this cloisonné style but in painted enamel, also in the Palace Museum, Beijing, from the Qing court collection, see ibid., pls 214 and 244, and a detail p. 179.