For the Son of Heaven: The Imperial Qianlong Gold Ewer

Christie's is honoured to present a dedicated single-lot auction featuring a magnificent imperial embellished gold ewer and cover, bearing a Qianlong mark and of the period (1736-1795). Fashioned in gold and exquisitely embellished with pearls, rubies, sapphires and turquoise, the extraordinary vessel exemplifies the technical brilliance and artistic refinement achieved under the patronage of the Qianlong Emperor. Imperial Workshop records describe a jewel-embellished gold ewer commissioned in 1740 that closely corresponds to the present work in scale and decoration. The ewer later entered the renowned collection of Dr. Carl Kempe (1884-1967), one of the foremost European collectors of Chinese art in the 20th century, and boasts a distinguished history of international exhibition and extensive publication. It is one of the finest surviving imperial gold vessels in private hands.

Special Notice
From June 2025, EU regulations 2019/880 and 2021/1079 introduce new licensing requirements and regulations relating to the import of cultural goods into the EU. We recommend clients check ahead of the sale whether the lot they wish to purchase and its import into the EU could be impacted by the regulations.

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