A fine agate ‘lotus’ waterpot. Qing dynasty, Qianlong period - Sothebys

naturalistically carved in the form of a hollowed lotus pod and a smaller attendant pod with dragonflies resting atop, supported on curved leafy stems issuing millet sprays, arrowhead and three water chestnuts, an egret crouching beside eating a fish, the translucent variegated stone of warm beige colour attractively suffused with dark brown, milky-white and emerald-green inclusions, wood stand. Quantité: 2 - 8cm., 3 1/8 in. Estimation: 50,000 - 70,000 GBP

NOTE: Ingeniously envisaged and exquisitely carved, this charming waterpot reveals the skill of the craftsman particularly in his incorporation of the coloured layers of the stone to fashion its different components. It is likely to belong to a group of items produced for the imperial court under the reign of the Qianlong emperor who introduced a taste for curios and miniature artifacts. An array of objects, including vessels, scholar’s items, sculpture and books, were made in various media and precious materials. While large objects immediately attract attention for their impressive size, the beauty ofminiature pieces lies in the extraordinary level of craftsmanship and detail achieved by the artist who has applied his masterly skills onto a small surface.

Smaller objects in the imperial collections, such as the present piece, were managed and housed in treasure boxes (duobaoge). The contents of these treasure boxes usually cover the entire range of the imperial collections, from jades and bronzes of all ages to decorative arts and exotica from foreign countries. Thus the treasure box is a microcosm of the emperor’s collection: reducing the vast imperial collection to a manageable size and format. See two treasure boxes filled with miniature treasures included in the exhibition Possessing the Past. Treasures from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1996, cat. nos 352 and 353.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. London | 15 mai 2013 www.sothebys.com