Lot 3027. A very rare polychrome-enamelled lotus-leaf-form cup, Qianlong two-character moulded mark and of the period (1736-1795), 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) wide, box. Estimate HKD 800,000 - HKD 1,200,000 (USD 103,241 - USD 154,862).  © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The cup is delicately hand-modelled in the shape of an open lotus leaf borne on a curled stem, with delicate details including a furled, undulating rim and characteristic veining to the interior and exterior, and three tiny holes to imitate insect bites. The interior is further applied with a stalk of millet and a spider. The two-character Qianglong mark is moulded to the centre of the interior.

Note: The present cup attests to the excellent craftsmanship of the skilful porcelain artists in the Qianlong reign to imitate a range of different materials. The Qianlong Emperor had great admiration for novel and exotic products, thus a large number of porcelains were made to imitate other materials during his reign. 

No other example appears to have been published, and only a few related examples are known. A Qianlong-marked famille rose washer in the shape of lotus, is in the collection of Palace Museum, Beijing, and illustrated in Selected Porcelain of the Flourishing Qing Dynasty at the Palace Museum, Beijing, 1994, p.330 pl. 64. Another example is a pair of famille rose lotus leaf ink palettes from the Meiyintang Collection, sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 7 April 2011, lot 11. 

A highly unusual and exquisite pair of white and famille-rose lotus-leaf ink palettes, Qing dynasty, Yongzheng period, from the Meiyintang Collection. Sold for  4,820,000 HKD at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 7 April 2011, lot 11. Photo: Sotheby's.