A moulded cinnabar lacquer bottle vaseQing DynastyThe globular vessel decorated in appliqué with the Eight Immortals in a mountainous landscape, the mouth rim, shoulder and foot rim embellished with stylised foliate borders, all reserved on a moulded wan-diaper ground, bearing an apocryphal Wanli six-character mark. 42cm (16 1/2in) high注脚The decorative technique on the present lot has its origins in the applique lacquer-work of the 7th century, and belongs to a group of moulded lacquer wares that first appear in the 18th century and continue through the Late Qing Dynasty. Rather than applying the lacquer in thin layers and carving the design the maker would instead mix up a special lacquer with ash and mould the material in one thick layer. This technique is first described in the Essential Criteria of Antiquities, Gegu Yaolun, (1388) by Cao Zhao as duihong or 'built up lacquer', but to date no Ming Dynasty examples have emerged.Compare with smaller bottle vase, 19th century, also bearing an apocryphal Wanli reign mark and donated to the British Museum in 1978 by Sir Harry Garner, acquisition no. 1978,1113.9.