Lot 158. A rare blue-ground gilt-decorated conjoined triple-neck double-gourd vase, Qianlong seal mark and period (1736-1795); 10.8cm., 4 1/4 in. Estimate 15,000 — 20,000 GBP. Lot sold 80,500 GBP. Photo: Sothebys.

well potted, the three double-gourd vases conjoined together forming three lobes rising to three separate tubular necks, decorated in gilt on each section with stylised lotus sprays separated by a band of circles, encircled at the foot with a upright lappets and the rim with a keyfret band, all reserved against a rich deep blue ground, the base with a six-character seal mark.

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 23rd September 1995, lot 472.
J.M. Hu Family Collection.
Sotheby’s London, 16th June 1999, lot 883.

Note: This charming vase belongs to a special small group of vessels decorated with gilt-paint on a rich blue ground. No other Qianlong example appears to have been published, although a larger vase of this type with a Xianfeng mark and of the period, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in The Complete Works of Chinese Ceramics, vol. 15, Shanghai, 2000, pl. 183.