A Superb Blue And White ‘Bajixiang’ Moonflask. Seal Mark And Period of Qianlong. Photo Sotheby's

the circular body rising from a splayed rectangular foot to a cylindrical neck flanked by a pair of 'S'-scroll handles, finely painted in varying tones of cobalt-blue enhanced by simulated 'heaping and piling', each side centred on a large boss with a floral medallion comprising ruyi-shaped petals, enclosed within a narrow lappet border and bold lotus petal panels containing the Eight Buddhist Emblems, bajixiang, surrounded by a key-fret border, the flat sides with a narrow band of leafy scrolls issuing lotus blooms, the neck and foot each painted with a lingzhi scroll and krey-fret around the rim, inscribed on the base with a six-character seal mark in underglaze-blue; 49.5 cm., 19 1/2 in. Estimate 10,000,000—15,000,000 HKD. Lot Sold 17,460,000 HKD (2,238,462 USD) to an Asian Trade

PROVENANCE: Sotheby's London, 11th December 1990, lot 327.
Christie's Hong Kong, 3/4thNovember 1996, lot 775.

NOTE: The present exquisitely painted moonflask ranks amongst the finest examples of blue and white wares made during the reign of the Qianlong emperor. The central design is inspired by early Ming decoration, such as that seen on the interior of a Yongle period blue and white basin, in the collection of the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, illustrated in He Li, Chinese Ceramics: A New Comprehensive Survey, Taipei, 1996, p. 219, no. 398. In its form, it is also after Yongle vessels that were inspired and based on a Middle-Eastern metal prototypes. However, it is worth noting that this flask was also copied and made in silver during the Qianlong period; see a silver moonflask sold in our London rooms, 11^th June 1996, lot 139.

A closely related Qianlong mark and period flask is illustrated in Sekai toji zenshu, vol. 15, Tokyo, 1983, pl. 151; another is included in the Illustrated Catalogue of Ch'ing Dynasty Porcelain in the National Palace Museum, vol. 1, Taipei, 1981, pl. 5; and a third is published in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl. 949. See also a flask from the collection of Edward T. Chow sold in these rooms, 19^th May 1981, lot 544; and another sold in our London rooms, 11^th December 1990, lot 327.

Sotheby's. Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, 08 Apr 11, Hong Kong www.sothebys.com