The colossal vase is two feet tall and bears the distinctive six-character mark of the Qianlong period (1736-1795) on its base. Mark Newstead, Specialist Consultant at Dreweatts for Asian Ceramics and Works of Art, commented: “We are delighted to be able to offer this important vase to the market which, since I first saw it in the 1990’s has passed through two generations of the same family.”

The vase is a magnificent example of Imperial Qianlong porcelain. The name of this shape of vase in Chinese is tianqiuping, 'heavenly globe vase', as in Chinese iconography heaven is a sphere. Hence, the large globular body of such vases provides an ideal reference to heaven.

It is remarkable for its highly unusual enamelling techniques with a striking and exceptionally rare palette of gold and silver against a vivid blue ground, which gives the vase a brilliance of tone. The rich cobalt blue seen on the current vase is sometimes referred to as 'sacrificial blue'. This name derives from the use of vessels bearing this colour glaze during sacrifices at the Imperial Altar of Heaven. It is extremely unusual to see blue vases painted in both gilding and slightly raised silver. The rarity of painted silver on porcelains suggests that the medium may have been difficult to control. An example of a moon flask with similar technique is on display at the Shanghai Museum.

This vase is a testament to the creativity of craftsmen working during the Qianlong period in exploring and perfecting enamelling techniques to cater to the emperor's taste for the innovative and the exotic while remaining rooted in antiquity.

Such a vase would require at least three firings in the kiln for the three different glazes and enamels. First at over 1200℃ for the cobalt blue, then at a lower temperature for the turquoise green on the interior of the vase, finally the gold and silver enamels in a special kiln designed for enamels.

T'ang Ying succeeded Nien His-yao as Commissioner at Huai An and Superintendent of the Imperial Factories in 1736. He is recorded as overseeing the making of enamelled silver (mio yin), see Soame Jenyns, Later Chinese porcelain, p. 64. The author further states, 'One of the most remarkable features of the ceramics of the Qianlong period was the virtuosity of their copies of other materials, which includes 'gold' and 'enamelled silver', p.67.

However, no other tainquiping decorated with the same subject in gold and silver appears to have been published. The exceptional quality, monumental size, and imposing presence of the current tianqiuping, as well as its fine and auspicious decoration, would have rendered it suitable for prominent display in one of the halls of the Qing palace. As a devout Buddhist, the Qianlong Emperor was also a follower of Daoism with the wish for long life. We can see the silver cranes holding an emblem for each of the eight immortals associated with Daoism - including a flower basket, a flute, a fan and castanets - on the vase's body. The flying cranes and bat also carry auspicious messages for longevity and prosperity. Compare with a Famille Rose tianqiuping vase with a similar design, in the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, object number 1989.49 and another Famille Rose tianqiuping, with flying bats amidst clouds, from the court collection at the Palace Museum, museums accession number gu00154670. A moon flask with the combined silver and gold decoration was sold at Sotheby's Paris 23rd June 2016, lot 100.

View page turning catalogue

Auction Details

Wednesday 18 & Thursday 19 May 2022
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art | Part One (Lot 1) | Wednesday 18 May, 10.30am BST
View Auction

Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art | Part One (Lots 2-200) | Wednesday 18 May, 11am BST
View Auction

Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art (Part Two) and Japanese, Indian and Islamic Ceramics & Works of Art (Lots 201-551) | Thursday 19 May, 10.30am BST
View Auction

VIEWING:

• Viewing in London (highlights):
  16-17 Pall Mall, St James’s, London SW1Y 5LU
  
  • Tuesday 10 May: 10am-5pm
  • Wednesday 11 May: 10am-5pm 
• Viewing in Newbury (full sale):
  
  • Sunday 15 May: 10am-4pm 
  • Monday 16 May: 10am-5pm
  • Tuesday 17 May: 10am-5pm
  • Wednesday 18 May: 8.30am-end of day
  • Thursday 19 May: 8.30am-2pm

ENQUIRIES:
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 553 553
Email: asian@dreweatts.com