Lot 44. A large and finely enamelled famille-rose 'Immortals' vase, Qing dynasty, 18th century; 73cm., 28 3/4 in.. Estimate  60,000 — 80,000 GBP. Lot sold 75,000 GBP. Photo Sotheby's.

the baluster body rising from a short spreading foot to a tall broad waisted neck and flaring rim, finely enamelled to the front and back with a large dragon and bat cartouche enclosing to one side a scene of the Immortal's Paradise and to the other, scholars in a garden engaged in leisurely pursuits, all reserved on a foliate strapwork turquoise ground between a lotus lappet band at the foot and a ruyi collar at the shoulder, the neck with two large lanterns reserved on a similar ground and divided by a large pair of pierced phoenix handles.

Note This vase is impressive for its magnificent size and sumptuous decoration that successfully fuses a combination of motifs over a large surface. The meticulous preparation that was invested into the overall composition is evident; from the dramatic shape of the flared neck that is mirrored in the body to the exquisitely bordered panels, and the clever use of gilt that is purposefully employed to lead the eye from the handles to the body.

Vases of this large size and decoration are rare although a ruby-ground sgraffiato vase of similar proportions and painted with cartouches enclosed by clambering chilong was offered in these rooms, 7th November 2012, lot 512; and another painted with the Eight Immortals enclosed in lobed cartouches against a mille fleur ground, from the Benjamin Altman bequest, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, is illustrated in Suzanne G. Valenstein, A Handbook of Chinese Ceramics, New York, 1989, pl. 276. See also a ruby-ground vase with an iron-red Qianlong reign mark and of the period, painted with birds and flowers within cartouches, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, sold several times at auction, at Christie’s New York, 23rd June 1983, lot 199, twice in these rooms, 22nd May 1985, lot 162, and 27th April 2003, lot 42, and a fourth time at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1st November 2004, lot 870.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, London, 11 november 2015, 11:00 AM