A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL MALLET VASE, QIANLONG FIVE-CHARACTER MARK AND OF THE PERIODChina, 1736-1795. The cylindrical body rising from a spreading foot to a tall neck with gilt rim, decorated around the exterior with lotus blooms borne on meandering leafy scrolls between ruyi bands, the foot encircled with C-scrolls and circles, all reserved on a distinct turquoise ground. The base incised with a five-character markQianlong nianzhi zuo and of the period.Provenance: British trade.Condition: Good condition with expected old wear, minor crackling and small fills typical for these wares. Minuscule nicks, some dents with associated small losses, the vase slightly leaning.Weight: 226 gDimensions: Height 14.4 cmBased on its size and mallet shape, this vase was made to hold incense instruments. These types of small cloisonné vases, censers, and instruments (luping sanshi) which were made for the burning of incense had an additional character below the reign mark and were made for the Qianlong court. Some scholars have suggested that the fifth character under the Qianlong mark could have been a way to number the large group of objects in the correct order, see H. Brinker and A. Lutz, Chinese Cloisonné: The Pierre Uldry Collection, New York, 1989, pp. 74-79.Literatureparison:Compare a similar cloisonné enamel vase with Qianlong five-character mark and of the period, from the Robert H. Clague Collection, Phoenix Art Museum, illustrated in Bèatrice Quette, Cloisonné: Chinese Enamels from the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, New York, 2011, p. 291, pl. 130.Auction resultparison:Type: Near identicalAuction: Christie’s New York, 18 September 2014, lot 613Price: USD 37,500 or approx.EUR 44,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A small cloisonné enamel bottle vase, Qianlong four-character mark inscribed in a line and of the periodExpert remark:pare the near identical bottle or mallet form, motif, five-character mark, and size (14.5 cm).Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: London, 11 May 2017, lot 180Price: GBP 22,500 or approx.EUR 32,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A cloisonné enamel bottle vase, Qianlong five-character mark and of the periodExpert remark:pare the closely related mallet or bottle form, motif, and five-character mark. Note the slightly larger size (17 cm).Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: London, 17 May 2012, lot 139Price: GBP 20,000 or approx.EUR 32,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A cloisonné enamel and gilt-bronze long-necked cylindrical vase, incised Qianlong five-character mark and of the periodExpert remark:pare the closely related form, motif, and five-character mark.乾隆五字款及年代銅胎掐絲琺瑯纏枝蓮紋賞瓶中國，