Lot 399. An Imperial Canton enamel yellow-ground bowl, cover and stand, Qianlong period (1736-1795). Estimate HK$120,000 - 180,000. Sold for HK$ 150,000 (€ 15,915). © Bonhams 2001-2018

The exteriors overall brilliantly enamelled and densely decorated with a continuous floral scroll of peony, camellia and hibiscus blossoms issuing from leafy stems, the knop and the base each depicting a coiled dragon, the interior of the bowl plain with a flowerhead decoration. The dish 15.7cm diam.

Note: Such bowls with vibrant enamelled yellow grounds were most likely for Imperial use. Recorded documents in the 'Archives of the Imperial Household Workshop' at Yangxin Hall include an account dated fourteenth year of Qianlong (1749) of a decree by the Eunuch 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 may well 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 in the Qing court collection. A painted enamel spittoon 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 miniature kang table also in the Qing court collection, see Metal-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 Fonthill 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. See also a similar yellow-enamelled bowl and cover sold in these rooms, 27 May 2012, lot 320. 

An Imperial yellow-enamel on copper bowl and cover, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 15.5cm diam. Sold for HK$ 118,750 (€ 12,599) at Bonhams Hong Kong, 27 May 2012, lot 320. photo Bonhams

Cf. my post: An Imperial yellow-enamel on copper bowl and cover, Qianlong period (1736-1795)

 Bonhams. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 24 Nov 2013, 14:00 HKT, HONG KONG, ADMIRALTY