A CELADON CLOISONNÉ 'IMPERIAL POEM' WALL VASE Late Qing dynastyPROPERTY OF ANOTHER OWNERA CELADON CLOISONNÉ 'IMPERIAL POEM' WALL VASELate Qing dynastyThe flattened body modeled as a flowerhead supported on a spreading foot and surmounted by a cylindrical neck between scroll-form handles, each petal of the principal side enclosing a further flower formed from the gilt-metal cloison wire surrounded by mint-green cloisonné enamel, the flowerhead centered by a large gilt-metal circle inscribed in black with a poem by Prince Yongxuan, the narrow sides decorated with keyfret cloisons and the foot and neck each with floral cloisons, all filled with the same mint-green enamel, positioned atop a gilt-metal stand cast with floral scroll relief and ruyi-form feet, the metal sheet of the reverse pierced with an aperture for suspension. 7 7/8in (20cm) highProvenance:Sara Fredericks (1903-1986), likely acquired in the 1960s in New York, thence by descentThe present vase is rare for its floriform design and its use of only a single color of enamel in the cloisonné. Monochrome cloisonné wall vases developed during the reign of the Qianlong emperor (r. 1736-1795), when the Chief Grand Counselor, Yu Minzhong (1714-1779), and the emperor's eight son, Prince Yongxuan (1746-1832), each commissioned a number of wall vases in this mode bearing their respective poems and names. The collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, includes numerous such wall vases, including a rare example with celadon-toned monochrome cloisonné enamel imitating a Guanyao vase (coll. no. 中琺000576). The present vase stylistically follows in this tradition in its tonality, technique, and poetic inscription signed (apocryphally) zichen Yongxuan jingshu ('respectfully written by the son and official Yongxuan'). The text reads:依闌傍晚放眾芬，睞鴨無勞換夕薰，一例群芳【踩】香卉，與蘭便是濁清分。子臣永璇敬書 Sara Fredericks (1903-1986) was a socialite and premier retailer who specialized in luxury women's apparel. She was friends with top fashion designers including James Galanos, Bill Blass, Oscar de la Renta, and Hubert de Givenchy, and her company, Sara Fredericks Salon Shops, carried clothes by these designers as well as by Chanel, Chloe, and other iconic brands. The company had locations in Miami, Palm Beach, Sarasota, New York City, and Boston.