Barrel Waterpot

FALANGCAI ENAMEL 珐琅彩 ON A COPPER BASE.

QING PERIOD 1644 to 1911

A magnificent extremely rare Beijing enamel waterpot in the shape of a barrel.
The central body intricately painted with lavender and pink lotus flowers.
Green and lilac leafy stems intertwined bearing pale pink and lilac flowers, green acanthus leaves.
Framed on both sides by borders of ruyi heads in lavender and white.
Metal bands that enclose a separating border of pale puce scroll curls and dots on a white background.
The whole, exquisitely painted in fine detail against an imperial yellow ground.
The ends with a central raised dome the midpoint bearing a Shou character on a yellow ground, surrounded by lingzhi and bats in varying colours against an aquamarine ground.
A metal band separating.
Encircled by scrolling leafy stems and blossoms set against a yellow round.
The inside enamelled turquoise.
Enclosed within a double square a four character Yongzheng Period Mark against a white backdrop underneath.

Formerly the property of a Japanese collector.

Refer Large Images for details, quality and condition, they also form the description.
Depending on your computer monitor / phone / etc colour may vary to actual.

Condition: Excellent - no losses. There is encrustation on the copper metal bands surrounding the raised domes on the barrel ends. A fact that often happens with age and where the copper has been exposed to moisture.

Note: When originally purchased over 46 years ago I was informed this waterpot would have likely sat on a rosewood stand.
The former owner advised when he acquired in the 1950's, it did not have a stand then.

Dimensions are maximum measurements
Length about : 9.5 cm
Width about : 7.0 cm

A$7,500

Ref: Sotheby's Hong Kong - Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art , 31 October 2004 , Sale number: HK0207.

The art of enamelling was introduced to the Chinese Court in the Kangxi era 1654 to 1722, by the Jesuit Guiseppe Castiglione (Lan Shining).
Falangcai 珐琅彩 items such as snuff bottles, boxes, vases and more are considered by many collectors as one of the finest of all Chinese Arts. The enamelling process was of such a difficult nature, that much was lost in production.