Lot 1. A rare painted enamel Gu-shaped miniature vase, Qianlong four-character mark in blue enamel and of the period (1736-1795); 2 ½ in. (6.4 cm.) high. Estimate GBP 30,000 - GBP 50,000 (USD 41,850 - USD 69,750). Price realised GBP 60,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2018

The vessel is intricately enamelled on the globular lower body with a dense millefleursdesign depicting chrysanthemum, peony, hibiscus and daisy amidst other exotic blooms, between blue trefoil collars and pink classic scrolls. The trumpet neck is decorated with upright overlapping lappets rising to a ground of yellow key-fret, all raised on a spreading foot encircled by ruyi heads and C-scrolls. The interior is decorated with turquoise enamel. 

Provenance: Christie's Hong Kong, 30 May 2006, lot 1570.

Note: A miniature vase like this would probably have been made to fit into a treasure box, where small items and interesting pieces in the miniature were kept and admired. Treasure boxes and their contents were enjoyed by the Emperor Qianlong and were also popular among collectors in the 18th century. Compare with other painted enamel versions of millefleurs in the miniature, found on snuff bottles in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Snuff Bottles, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2003, pl. 135 (alternating with ruby landscapes) pl. 139, and pl. 152 (both with a multitude of fruit and flowers).

Christie's. Rarity and Refinement: Treasures from a Distinguished East Asian Collection, London, 15 May 2018 - SALE 16837