Qing Dynasty Qianlong Period Sacrifice‑Blue Gilt‑Decorated Famille‑Rose Four‑Part Conjoined Vase with Openwork Four‑Season Flowers

拍品描述

Dimensions：H.28.5 cm (11‑1/4 in), W.22 cm (8‑5/8 in) Condition & Provenance：The four‑vessel integrated structure is complete and stable. Gilding on each rim shows minor natural age‑related wear. Interior turquoise‑green glaze is well preserved. Gilt patterns remain largely intact. Open‑work floral sections are free of chips and losses. No cracks or hidden damages, no restoration, no chemical cleaning. Formerly from private collection of Richard A. Cole, New York City, New York, U.S.A. Acquired from an antique gallery on Fifth Avenue, New York during the 1990s, passed down within the family. Never offered at public auction, no exhibition or published catalog records. Description：This imperial Qianlong four‑part conjoined vase is formed by four fused vases creating a quatrefoil overall silhouette, with four flared gilded mouths. Interiors are entirely covered with soft turquoise‑green glaze. Neck is decorated with multi‑colored bands including yellow‑ground ruyi pendants and lotus‑petal motifs in vivid graduated tones. Main body is covered with deep glossy sacrifice‑blue ground, richly overlaid with fine gilded scrolling lotus blossoms, bats and shou‑character emblems symbolizing longevity and fortune. Four oval gilt‑framed reserved panels on the belly adopt multi‑layer open‑work carving technique, presenting four‑season flowers: peony for spring, lotus for summer, chrysanthemum for autumn and plum blossom for winter. Overlapping petals and foliage are naturally modelled with fine vein details and rich famille‑rose enamels. The lower portion is supported by lotus‑petal foot ring filled with yellow, pink and pale‑blue enamels and outlined in gilding. Each of the four bases is glazed turquoise‑green and bears four‑character blue enamel “Qian Long Nian Zhi” mark. Conjoined four‑vessel form represents extremely difficult firing technique, combining sacrifice‑blue glaze, gilding, famille‑rose painting and deep pierced carving. Ingenious shape and sumptuous ornamentation rank it as an important imperial palace display artifact of Qianlong reign.

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