A RARE RUBY-GROUND FAMILLE-ROSE 'BAJIXIANG' EWER, PENBA HU Qianlong seal mark, Republic periodPROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTIONA RARE RUBY-GROUND FAMILLE-ROSE 'BAJIXIANG' EWER, PENBA HUQianlong seal mark, Republic periodThe globular body supported on a domed foot and surmounted by a shaped neck and angled disc-form mouth, one side set with a S-form spout emerging from a beast mask, the body painted in vibrant famille-rose enamels with scrolling lotus amidst beribboned bajixiang all against a raspberry-colored ground, the scrolling lotus repeated at the foot, stem, rim, and spout, decorative polychrome and gilt bands dividing each register, the interior of the mouth, spout, and foot enameled turquoise, the base centered with square reserve enclosing a six-character Qianlong mark in iron red. 7 3/4in (19.7cm) highProvenance:French Private Collection, until circa 2010, by reputeThe present ewer is modeled on traditional Tibetan ritual ewers (penba hu) produced in metal, which were reinterpreted in porcelain at the imperial kilns of the 18th century. A number of Qianlong seal mark and period ewers of this type have been preserved in the collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, including an example with a royal blue ground, one with a 'clair de lune' ground, and another with a yellow ground (coll. nos 中瓷004675, 中瓷004672, and 中瓷004677, respectively). For a Qianlong seal mark and period example with a ruby ground, see one sold first by J. T. Tai & Co. in 1963, and later at Christie's, New York, 28 March 2006, lot 173.