The blue and white double gourd vase featured in a sale of drawings, paintings, furniture and works of art held by Gros et Delettrez (30% buyer’s premium) on April 22.
The 12¼in (31cm) high vase, which is decorated with nine dragons, the main one chasing the sacred pearl, is a mark and period piece from the Jiaqing era (1760-1820).
The mark on the Jiaqing double gourd vase sold for €600,000 (£504,200) at Gros et Delettrez.
It was part of a collection formed by two Germans: Gustav Detring (1842-1913) and his son-in-law Constantin von Hanneken (1854- 1925) who were based in China from the second half of the 19th century and were influential in the diplomatic, political and military spheres.
The vase passed down to their descendants until it was sold at auction by Sotheby’s in November 2018 for a premium-inclusive £586,000 and was then in a private collection.
Offered on April 22 with a guide of €250,000-350,000, it ended up selling for a hammer price of €600,000 (£504,200) or €780,000 including premium.
Emperor’s seal
The spinach green nephrite seal used by the Qianlong Emperor sold for €720,000 (£605,040) at Beaussant Lefèvre.
Image copyright: BeaussantLefèvre/Drouot
Earlier in the month, at Beaussant Lefèvre (27% buyer’s premium) on April 15, a spinach green nephrite jade seal that was used by the Qianlong Emperor chalked up a hammer price of €720,000 (£605,040), more than double its low estimate.
The emperor, who was a connoisseur of fine art, had more than 1800 seals in his possession which he used to record his approval and the imprint of this example is recorded in the album that inventories them.
The spinach green nephrite seal used by the Qianlong Emperor sold for €720,000 (£605,040) at Beaussant Lefèvre.
Image copyright: BeaussantLefèvre/Drouot
The 3½ x 3½ x 2¾in (9 x 9 x 7cm) seal is carved as a lion playing with a ball and has an inscription to the base which translates as ‘Treasure of the Qianlong Emperor, appreciative of talented people’.
It has a provenance to the collection of René Georgi (1871-61) and had been in the same family collection for almost a century.
£1 = €1.19
