Lot 1750. A rare small blue-enameled shell-form ink palette, Qianlong four-character seal mark in iron-red and of the period (1736-1795); 3 in. (7.6 cm.) long. Estimate USD 6,000 - USD 8,000. Price realised USD 11,875. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011. 

Modeled in the shape of a flattened conch shell with granular surface covered in bright blue enamel, the flat palette area covered in a pale blue-green tinted clear glaze within raised outer edges retaining traces of gilding, as do the three small shell-shaped feet on the underside, box.

Note: Qianlong period conch shell-shaped palettes such as the present example appear to be quite rare. Two similar Jiaqing-marked examples were sold at Sotheby's, Hong Kong, 25 April 2004, lot 59, and a single Jiaqing-marked example was sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 30 April 2001, lot 757.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part I and Part II Including Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, New York, 24 March 2011