Lot 320. An Imperial yellow-enamel on copper bowl and cover, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 15.5cm diam. Estimate: HK$ 100,000 - 120,000. Sold for HK$ 118,750 (€ 12,599). photo Bonhams

The vessel densely decorated with a continuous floral scrolls composed of lotus, peony, camellia and hibiscus blossoms issuing from leafy steams, the cover and base each with a coiled dragon the interior of the bowl and cover plain and each with a flowerhead decoration, the exterior all brilliantly enamelled in bright colours of white, pink, green and blue on yellow ground, the interior on white ground. (2). 

Note: Such bowls with vibrant enamelled yellow grounds have most likely been for Imperial use. Recorded documents in the Archives of the Imperial Household Workshop at Yangxin Hall, is an account dated to the fourteenth year of Qianlong reign, whereby issuing a decree by the Eunich Hu Shihie, stating that enamelled wares presented to the court by the Guangdong Maritime Customs Office had no marks, and that later wares were to be made with Imperial marks. The current example is very much related to such wares created during the early Qianlong period and must have been presented to the court for Imperial use. 

Other vessels with a lemon-yellow ground used by the Imperial court without reign marks are presented in the Qing court collection. A painted enamel spitton and cover with yellow-ground enamel dated to the Qianlong period is in the Qing court collection, see Metal-bodied Enamel Ware. The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Beijing, 2001, pp.230-231, no.219. For a similarly decorated minature kang table also in the Qing court collection, seeMetal-bodied Enamel Ware. The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Beijing, 2001, p.239. no.226.

Compare a similar pair of Imperial yellow-ground enamelled copper circular bowls and covers, formerly in the collection of Lord Margadale of Islay (Fonthill House, inventory no.334), then in the collection of Alfred Morrison (1821-1897) and subsequently illustrated by S.Marchant & Son, London,Recent Acquisitions 2005. Chinese Imperial & Export Porcelain, Cloisonné & Enamel Wares. 80th Anniversary, London, 2005, p.132, no.79.

Bonhams. 27 May 2012 2 p.m. Hong Kong. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art