China, 18^th century. Of square section, the exterior superbly decorated with archaistic motifs repeated in mirror image on each facet, including three taotie masks on the middle section, pendent plantain leaves on the splayed foot, and confronting phoenixes forming an image reminiscent of taotie to the flaring neck. Prominently applied with notched gilt-bronze flanges dividing each side at the corners. The interior of the mouth is finely enameled with vibrant colors depicting a scrolling lotus pattern.

Provenance: Ancienne Collection Particulière Française. Sotheby’s Paris, 23 June 2016, lot 84, sold for EUR 45,000. A distinguished London dealer, acquired from the above.
Condition: Excellent condition with old wear and small manufacturing flaws, as well as minor losses and associated old fills (inspected under strong blue light). The base with small structural fissures. All exactly as expected from authentic 18^th-century cloisonné wares of this size. For a detailed video of the vase taken under strong blue light, please refer to the department.

Weight: 2,877 g
Dimensions: Height 33 cm

Expert’s note: The present cloisonné fang gu is exceptional for its refined design of taotie masks, which are highly expressive and comparable to some of the most valuable cloisonné wares of the 18^th century ever to come up for auction. Compare a cloisonné zun, with a Qianlong mark and of the period, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2 April 2019, lot 3517, sold for HKD 4,495,000; a cloisonné hu, also dated Yongzheng to Qianlong period, at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 November 2020, lot 2905, sold for HKD 8,650,000.

Literature comparison: The form and design of this cloisonné fang gu are a result of the Yongzheng and Qianlong Emperors’ wishes for craftsmen to take inspiration from antiquity, reinstating the intrinsic qualities of simplicity, sincerity and happy exuberance of the ancient cultures. For this purpose, the Qianlong Emperor instructed the Court to collect drawings of antiquities, such as the 'Catalogue of Xiqing Antiquities' (Xi Qing Gu Jian), which served as sources of designs for the production of vessels. Compare three related archaistic cloisonné enamel and gilt-bronze vases, fang gu, Qianlong mark and of the period, illustrated in ibidem, plates 143, 146, and 147.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related cloisonné fang gu, dated to the 17^th century, at Sotheby’s New York, in Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, on 18 March 2014, lot 360, sold for USD 68,750, and another of larger size, dated 17^th-18^th century, at Sotheby’s New York, in Imperial Cloisonné and Jade, Chinese Art from The Brooklyn Museum, on 17 March 2021, lot 30, sold for USD 88,200.

雍正至乾隆朝鎏金掐絲琺琅饕餮紋出戟方觚
中國，十八世紀。銅胎鍍金，四方體，四方弧腹，口及底外撇，八面出戟，口邊及戟線寬厚。通體藍釉地，圖案層次分明，繁密工細，四面紋飾相同。腹部飾獸面紋，紋飾對稱分佈，口沿下及底邊飾仰覆蕉葉紋，以及倒置的饕餮紋，如鳳凰一般，口沿外裝飾勾蓮紋。口内精美的琺瑯彩繪勾蓮紋。造型渾厚凝重，裝飾富麗堂皇。

來源：特別法國老收藏，巴黎蘇富比2016年6月23日lot 84，售價EUR 45,000。一位傑出的倫敦經銷商，購於上述拍賣。
品相：狀況良好，舊時磨損，小型製造缺陷，小缺損和相關的舊時填充物（在強藍光下檢查）。 底座有小型結構裂隙。 所有這些都符合這種尺寸的十八世紀景泰藍器皿的特徵。 在強藍光下拍攝的方觚細節的視頻，請垂詢部門。

重量：2,877 克
尺寸：高33 厘米

專家注釋：此掐絲琺琅方觚精緻的饕餮面具紋極具表現力，完全可媲美十八世紀一些特別有價值的掐絲琺琅拍賣品。一件乾隆款及年代的掐絲琺琅尊，見香港蘇富比2019年4月 2 日 lot 3517, 售價HKD 4,495,000；一件雍正至乾隆朝掐絲琺琅壺見香港佳士得2020年11月30日 lot 2905, 售價HKD 8,650,000。

文獻比較：這件掐絲琺琅方觚的外形和圖案是雍正和乾隆兩位皇帝希望工匠從古代汲取靈感、重現古時文化的質樸真實和繁榮的內在的結果。 為此，乾隆帝曾命大臣編撰《西清古鑑》等青銅器圖錄。 比較三件乾隆款和年代的仿古掐絲琺瑯鎏金瓶和方觚，見圖版 143、146 和 147。

拍賣結果比較：一件十七世紀掐絲琺琅方觚，見紐約蘇富比 Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art2014年3月18日 lot 360, 售價USD 68,750 ；另一件十七至十八世紀的方觚，見紐約蘇富比 Imperial Cloisonné and Jade, Chinese Art from The Brooklyn Museum 2021年3月17日 lot 30, 售價USD 88,200。