Lot 3108. A pair of small and rare famille-rose 'tribute bearers' incense holders, Seal marks and period of Qianlong (1736-1795), 11.5 cm, 4 1/2  in. Estimate 700,000 — 900,000 HKD (90,083 — 115,821 USD). Lot sold 875,000 HKD (112,604 USD). Photo: Sotheby's. 

each delicately modelled with a tapering cylindrical body resting on a slightly larger splayed foot, surmounted by a gently concave band decorated with three gilt scroll flanges below the mouthrim, the body divided into two main registers by a gilt flange, the upper register decorated with a continuous scene depicting various birds against a tranquil riverscape arboured with tall trees and set with jagged rockwork, the lower register with a similar riverscape and further detailed with small pavilions and various tribute bearers, some portrayed with foreign features and adorned in foreign attire, below the grooved band encircling the rim and finely picked out in pink enamel with floral and scrolling motifs against a pastel pink ground, all above a further pink-ground band encircling the foot with feathery scrolls and 'horse-hoof' motifs, the turquoise-enamelled base centred with an iron-red four-character seal mark within a white cartouche, wood stands

Provenance: Christie's Hong Kong, 27th April 1997, lot 761.

Note: Remarkable for their fine and detailed painting on a small scale, the present pair is probably unique, with no other comparable examples known to exist.

These holders have been cleverly created to simulate painted enamel wares as indicated by the gilding on the bands, rims and handles. The scene of foreigners is also more commonly found on painted enamels, which were in turn inspired by European watercolour paintings. However while these copper-bodied wares often portrayed the figural design in cartouches, the present scenes extend around the whole holders as though painted on a miniature handscroll. Additionally, the foreign scene provides an attractive contrast with the traditional bird and phoenix scene depicted above.

Sotheby's. In His Majesty's Palm: Exquisite Porcelain Playthings, Hong Kong, 05 Apr 2017, 10:20 AM