QIANLONG SIX-CHARACTER SEAL MARK IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND OF THE PERIOD (1736-1795)

The present vase is extremely rare and only two other examples of identical form and design appear to be known, which are a pair on display in one of the cabinets in the Chateau de Fontainebleau, Paris （fig.1 & fig.2). These three vases represent an unusual Qianlong-period re-interpretation of archaic bronze vessels from the Zhou dynasty, combining archaistic motifs such as taotie masks and swirl roundels with contemporaneous designs like the trigrams. The colour combination on these vases is also highly uncommon. The juxtaposition of iron-red, lemon-yellow and lavender-blue enamels create a stark contrast making the vase visually both pleasant and captivating.