Lot 246. A very rare gilded 'famille-rose' blue-ground 'sanduo' vase, Iron-red seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795), 32.1 cm., 12 5/8 in. Estimate 4,000,000 — 6,000,000 HKD. Lot sold 5,102,400 HKD. Photo: Sotheby's

of ovoid form tapering to a slightly splayed foot and rising to the waisted neck with flared mouth and inturned rim, the body finely painted in famille-rose enamels with a continuous panel enclosing stems of flowering white lilies entwined around the lower branches of a pomegranate tree, the knotty branches bearing red multi-petalled flowers and plump fruits, some burst open to reveal raspberry-red seeds, all reserved against a gilt- decorated blue ground between moulded lappet and ruyi-head borders, the shoulders and neck with further pomegranate flowers enclosed by flying butterflies and separated by florets and lozenges intertwined with its leafy stems, the mouth encircled by alternating leaves and stylised lotuses, the interior and base glazed turquoise.

Provenance: Collection of Alfred Morrison (1821-1897)
Collection of the Rt. Hon.The Lord Margadale of Islay, T.D., at Fonthill House, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 29th October, 1991, lot 286

Note: A Qianlong vase of different shape decorated with branches of fruiting pomegranate, peach, finger citron and persimmon, between similar gilt and blue-ground borders on the neck and foot, was sold in these rooms, 27th October 1992, lot 161. Compare also a cylindrical vase painted with a landscape scene, but with similar gilt and blue ground borders, illustrated in Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong. Qing Porcelain from the Palace Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1989, pl. 30.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 25 avr. 2004