A very rare Beijing enamel double gourd vase

Description:

China, Yongzheng to Qianlong period
H. 22,6 cm
In the finest enamel painting in graduated shades of blue on a white ground in the lower part of the vase, which rests on a slightly flared stand decorated with cloud motifs, bats around the central character Shou, the upper half with stylized dragons around lotus. Two ruyi on the sides as handles with flower painting on a yellow background. The sides with lotus flowers and foliage.
European private collection, family-owned before 1970, originally collected in the second half of the 19th century in the diplomatic service in China - Old collection label no. 10 at the base
Compare a vase of this very rare colour combination in the collections of the Palace Museum, published in PALACE MUSEUM (ed.), Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Enamels. Painted Enamels in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Volume V, Beijing, Forbidden City Publishing House, 2011, no. 197; See also a Qianlong plate in the collections of the Palace Museum in Taipei with the same colour palette published 'Enamel Ware in the Ming and Ch'ing Dynasties', National Palace Museum Taipei, February 1999, no. 138; Shi Jingfei 'Radiant Luminance: The Painted Enamel Ware of the Imperial Qing Court', Taipei 2012, no. 65, an imperial small wares of the Yongzheng period and no. 137 an example of the Qianlong period - Except for a very small enamel loss on one handle (2mm by 2mm) and minimal traces of age very well preserved