A superb and extremely rare Beijing enamel gold teapot and cover. Mark and period of Yongzheng.

A superb and extremely rare Beijing enamel gold teapot and cover. Mark and period of Yongzheng. photo courtesy Sotheby's

whimsically designed, the cylindrical body exquisitely enamelled with a pair of fantastic phoenix adorned with lush blooms of peonies scattered on a rich turquoise ground, the birds with outstretched colourful wings and long tail with magnificent plumes, the side set with a gold arched spout rising from a mythical animal-head base, set opposite an archaistic C-shaped handle, further set with a pair of gold tweezers hinged with a foliate scrolls fitted into the side of the handle, the interior enamelled in turquoise, the underside inscribed with a four-character reign mark in blue on a white ground, the cover decorated with a pair of confronting butterflies on a lemon-yellow ground surrounded by flowers enclosed within a raised circular lip, bordered on the exterior with a flower and phoenix band on turquoise, the reverse fitted with a candle pricket rising from a pear-shaped vase inscribed with shou characters, supporting a small dish and a golden needle, the base with bats, lotus and shou characters on a lime-green ground enclosed within a raised gold lip; 19.5 cm., 7 5/8 in. Estimate 20,000,000—30,000,000 HKD. Lot Sold 40,980,000 HKD

PROVENANCE: Acquired in Southwest France, 1977.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art: The Collection of a Parisian Connoisseur, Part II. 07 Oct 10. Hong Kong www.sothebys.com