清乾隆 銅胎畫琺瑯「皮球花」紋海棠式盤 《乾隆年製》款

quadrilobé, l'intérieur peint sur fond blanc de fleurs multicolores autour d'une corolle centrale épanouie parmi les trèfles, marque à quatre caractères dans un double carré à la base

The colour of the enamels on the dish is of a softer, slightly more yellowish tone than the catalogue illustration suggests. The enamelled flower-balls are rich in colour and detail. There is an area of restoration to the interior and exterior of the rim of one with some over-painting. There are some hairline cracks running through to the enamels on the inside, sides and base of the dish (several visible in the catalogue illustration). There is light overall wear to the enamels on the inside of the tray which have lost the a bit of the lustre (particularly to the centre). There is wear to the gilding around and beneath the tray. There is some wear to the mark on the back.
"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 painted enamel bowl with a very similar design and similarly with a Qianlong four-character mark in red enamel was included in the exhibition Chinese Painted Enamels of the 18th Century, New York, 1993, cat. no. 12. This bowl is identified as having been made in Guangzhou. Furthermore, it is also proposed that the bowl and other vessels painted with a similar design may have originated from the same workshop and were most likely made for the court as tribute items. A similarly decorated lobed vase with four character Qianlong mark in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is illustrated in Ch'ing Dynasty Painted Enamel Ware, no. 142. Three large vases, from the Qing Court collection and now in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in Zhongguo jinyin poli falanqi quanji. Falanji (II), vol. 6, Shijiazhuang, 2002, pls. 158-160; and a loop handled teapot illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Metal-bodied Enamel Ware, Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 199.