明嘉靖 青花蓮紋爐 及 明萬曆 青花「福壽康寧」墨池 爐：《大明嘉靖年製》款 池：《縉紳佳器》款

the deep rounded sides of the bombé body painted on the exterior in inky cobalt blue with lotuses in cloud shaped panels and a band of reverse-decorated designs below the slightly flared mouthrim, a six-character mark within double circles, the inkwell of rectangular section moulded with two circular wells painted with melon vines and a lotus at different stages of its life cycle, the sides each painted with a character flanked by cranes and clouds to form the blessing, fu shou kang ling, the countersunk base with the characters jin shen jia qi

The inkwell cover is missing. Four corners have been restored and covered with overpaint, probably to conceal some original frittings. The everted rim of the bowl has been ground down as visible in the photo. Both pieces have some other surface wear and original firing flaws such as body lines to the inkwell, burst bubbles and kiln grits to the bowl.
"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."