China, 1736-1795. The globular body rising to a waisted neck with bulbous mouth fitted with a rim carved from hardwood, the exterior lobed and crisply molded with evenly spaced lotus blossoms issuing tendrils below a band of ruyi heads and scrolling vines. The base with a four-character mark Qianlong shangwan and of the period. mark (‘appreciated by the Qianlong Emperor’).

Provenance: From a private collection of Chinese scholar’s objects in southern France.
Condition: Excellent condition with minimal wear.

Weight: 90.1 g (excl. stand) and 142.5 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 23.1 cm (excl. stand) and 24.2 cm (incl. stand)

With a carved hardwood stand, dating to the Qing dynasty. (2)

The mark Qianlong Shangwan ('appreciated by the Qianlong Emperor') appears to have been reserved for an exclusive group of gourd vessels commissioned by the emperor for his personal enjoyment and collection.

The method of Fan Pao (molding a gourd) is difficult, and thus it is rare to find a piece like the present garlic bottle with clear patterns, uniform thickness, no blurry lines, and that the patterns between each petal are connected naturally and seamlessly.

Appreciated likewise by the court and literati for its humble origin and association with the symbolism of Daoist paradise, gourd objects have a long tradition in Chinese history. During the Kangxi period, the technique of gourd molding flourished with the emperor’s commissioning of such vessels to be crafted in the Palace Workshop. Immediately, this folk art was transformed into an Imperial art form. Even the gourds to be used for such vessels were grown in the Fengze Garden opposite the Forbidden City. It again experienced a revival under the Qianlong Emperor, the products of which were characteristically light to the touch, pleasing to the eye and evocative of nature.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related garlic-head gourd vase dated to the Kangxi period, 13.8 cm high, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, accession number 故00125252.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 21 September 2022, lot 345
Price: USD 69,300 or approx. EUR 70,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A molded gourd 'floral' garlic-mouth vase, Shangwan mark and period of Qianlong
Expert remark: Compare the near identical form, molded decoration, and Shangwan mark. Note the smaller size (18 cm) and that the present lot has a crisper molding throughout.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2 April 2018, lot 3411
Price: HKD 406,400 or approx. EUR 57,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare moulded gourd bottle vase Shangwan mark and period of Qianlong
Expert remark: Compare the similar form, decoration, and Shangwan mark. Note the size (14.2 cm).

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