A melon-shaped 'guan'-type vase. Seal mark and period of Qianlong
A melon-shaped 'guan'-type vase. Seal mark and period of Qianlong
the globular melon-shaped body carved with lobes around the sides and rising to a slightly inturned mouth of similar lobed form, flanked at the sides by a pair of handles moulded as butterflies, all beneath a soft grey glaze suffused with a fine and even network of black crackles, the base inscribed with the six-character seal mark in underglaze-blue. 17.5 cm., 6 7/8 in. Estimate 200,000—250,000 HKD
PROVENANCE: A Private Japanese Collection.
NOTE: The unusual shape of this finely potted vase exemplifies the technical proficiency of Qing period craftsmen which allowed them to produce vessels that were creative and perfectly suited the Qianlong emperor's taste for the idiosyncratic and unique. This piece is extremely rare and no other vessel of this form appears to have been published.
The Qianlong emperor favoured works that were visually charming but that were also steeped in tradition and auspicious associations. Skilfully covered in a glaze that imitates the highly prized Guan ware of the Song dynasty (960-1279), the combination of butterflies with melons symbolises the wish for numerous descendants.
Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. 08 Apr 09. Hong Kong www.sothebys.com photo courtesy Sotheby's
A fine and rare carved celadon-glazed octagonal vase. Seal mark and period of Qianlong
A fine and rare carved celadon-glazed octagonal vase. Seal mark and period of Qianlong
of finely potted square section with chamfered corners, the sides tapering gradually towards the base supported on a short splayed foot, finely and crisply carved in low relief at the mid-section with an elegant central archaic frieze of four pairs of confronted strapwork dragons and phoenix alternating with similarly paired dragons at the beveled corners, all between lappet bands and narrows bands of strapwork dragons, the sharply angled shoulders with a band of overlapping upright leaf lappets, with two further decorative collars around the flared rim, with ruyi-shaped lappets skirting the foot, all evenly dressed with a silky sea-green glaze softening at the rim, shoulders and carving to enhance the decoration, inscribed on the base with the six-character seal mark in underglaze-blue. 31.8 cm., 12 1/2 in. Estimate 2,000,000—3,000,000 HKD
PROVENANCE: A Private Japanese Collection.
NOTE: The present vase is remarkable for its magnificent celadon glaze, intricately carved relief decoration and elegant facetted form. The elaborate nature of this vase, with archaistic friezes of strapwork dragons and phoenixes and stylised stiff leaves, reflects the Qianlong Emperor's fondness for antiquity and epitomises his favoured ornate style. Qing decorative schemes were often inspired by archaic bronzes and jades and such works were intended to evoke the past, thus signifying the Emperor's all-encompassing role as preserver of Chinese cultural traditions.
Two closely related vases were sold in these rooms, 2nd May 2000, lot 613, and 2nd November 1994, lot 114. Qianlong vases of this shape, but with plain body and various glazes, are known; such as a celadon-glazed example, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28th November 2005, lot 1305; and another vase with Ru-type glaze, published in the Illustrated Catalogue of Tokyo National Museum. Chinese Ceramics II, Tokyo, 1990, cat. no. 721. Compare also a finely carved celadon-ground vase of similar form, but decorated with two panels of landscapes in famille-rose enamels, sold in these rooms, 21st May 1980, lot 255, and now in the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, included in the exhibition The Wonders of the Potter's Palette, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1984, cat. no. 69.
Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. 08 Apr 09. Hong Kong www.sothebys.com photo courtesy Sotheby's
A fine 'ge'-type hexagonal vase, hu. Seal mark and period of Qianlong
A fine 'ge'-type hexagonal vase, hu. Seal mark and period of Qianlong
of sturdily potted hexagonal section, the shouldered body sitting on a splayed foot and rising to a waisted neck flanked by a pair of tubular handles, covered overall with a thick soft grey glaze suffused with an irregular network of black crackling and golden threads, the glaze stopping neatly at the footring, the base inscribed with the six-character seal mark in underglaze-blue. 29.1 cm., 11 1/2 in. Estimate 1,200,000—1,500,000 HKD
PROVENANCE: A Japanese Collection, by repute.
NOTE: Although several Qianlong vases of this shape are found in tea-dust glaze or decorated in underglaze blue, the present Ge-type piece is extremely rare and no other example appears to have been published. For the inspiration of this vase, see a larger Yongzheng Guan-type vase in the Qing Court collection, and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Monochrome Porcelain, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 204; and two examples sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28th November 2005, lot 1316; and 26th April 2004, lot 1052.
A Qianlong vase of this shape and size, but with a tea-dust glaze, formerly in the Hall Family Collection and included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition Iron in the Fire, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1988, was sold in these rooms, 2nd May 2000, lot 556; and a larger example in the Idemitsu collection, Tokyo, is published in Chinese Ceramics from the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl. 965. Compare also a large moulded celadon-glazed vase of this from, with Qianlong mark and of the period, included in the exhibition Ethereal Elegance. Porcelain Vases of the Imperial Qing. The Huaihaitang Collection, Art Museum, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2007, cat .no. 50; and a blue and white decorated example in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Treasures in the Royalty. The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, pl. 238.
Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. 08 Apr 09. Hong Kong www.sothebys.com photo courtesy Sotheby's
A chinese bronze taotie applique, Western Zhou dynasty (110-- 771 bc)
A chinese bronze taotie applique, Western Zhou dynasty (110-- 771 bc)
together with a bronze human mask appliqué. The taotie appliqué 7in. (18cm.) high (2) Estimate $3,000 - $5,000
Christie's. Christie's Interiors. 1 - 2 April 2009. New York, Rockefeller Plaza www.christies.com Image 2009 Christie's Ltd
A chinese globular bronze vessel wtih ring handles, fu, and a tripod vessel, li ding, Zhou dynasty (1100- 256 bc)
A chinese globular bronze vessel wtih ring handles, fu, and a tripod vessel, li ding, Zhou dynasty (1100- 256 bc)
The fu 8/1.2in. (21.5cm.) diameter (2) Estimate $4,000 - $6,000
Christie's. Christie's Interiors. 1 - 2 April 2009. New York, Rockefeller Plaza www.christies.com Image 2009 Christie's Ltd
Two chinese archaic bronze ritual wine vessels, a zun and a gu, late Shang early Western Zhou dynasty (circa 12th- 10th century)
Two chinese archaic bronze ritual wine vessels, a zun and a gu, late Shang early Western Zhou dynasty (circa 12th- 10th century)
The gu 13in. (33cm.) high (2) Estimate $4,000 - $6,000
Christie's. Christie's Interiors. 1 - 2 April 2009. New York, Rockefeller Plaza www.christies.com Image 2009 Christie's Ltd
A pair of chinese porcelain iron-red and gilt decorated pear-shaped vases, Kangxi period (1662-1772)
A pair of chinese porcelain iron-red and gilt decorated pear-shaped vases, Kangxi period (1662-1772)
8½in. (21.5cm.) high (2) Estimate $2,000 - $3,000
Christie's. Christie's Interiors. 1 - 2 April 2009. New York, Rockefeller Plaza www.christies.com Image 2009 Christie's Ltd
A chinese marbelized ceramic pouring vessel and two hu-form vases, Song Yuan dynasty
A chinese marbelized ceramic pouring vessel and two hu-form vases, Song Yuan dynasty
The ewer 10½in. (26.7cm.) high (3) Estimate $2,500 - $3,500
Christie's. Christie's Interiors. 1 - 2 April 2009. New York, Rockefeller Plaza www.christies.com Image 2009 Christie's Ltd
A pair of large pale blue glass bottle vases and a smaller bottle vase, 18th 19th century
A pair of large pale blue glass bottle vases and a smaller bottle vase, 18th 19th century
the smaller vase drilled . The pair 13in. (33cm.) high (2) Estimate $2,500 - $3,500
Christie's. Christie's Interiors. 1 - 2 April 2009. New York, Rockefeller Plaza www.christies.com Image 2009 Christie's Ltd
A rectangular mother-of-pearl inlaid black lacquer wine table, jiuzuo. Ming Dynasty, Wanli Period
A rectangular mother-of-pearl inlaid black lacquer wine table, jiuzuo. Ming Dynasty, Wanli Period
consisting of a rectangular top with a floating panel set in a beaded frame with double-moulded edges, resting on a beaded cusped apron with traces of gilding extending to rectangular sectioned legs, each gently flaring to leaves, pad and extending supports at the feet, the shape imitating an imperial sword (Shang Fang Bao Jian), further secured by two sets of rectangular stretchers between the legs with moulding on all corners, covered overall in a black lacquer with a fine dusting of mother-of-pearl flecks imbedded throughout, the underside lacquered in red. 77 by 116.3 by 76 cm. 30 3/8 by 45 3/4 by 30 in. Estimaate 3,500,000—5,000,000 HKD
NOTE: A very close Wanli mark and period example in the Palace Museum in Bejing has carved dragons on the apron filled-in with crushed mother-of-pearl and reserved on a mother-of-pearl ground, and is illustrated in Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (I)The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong 2002, p. 128, no. 108 (fig. 1). Another similar lacquer wine table, once in the Rothchild Collection, the Roger Vivier Collection, and the Rockefeller Collection, is illustrated in Christopher Bruckner's Treasures from Temples and Palaces, vol. 2, 2005, cat. no. 10. Also compare a slightly taller zitan table with similarly shaped apron in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The 200 Objects You Should Know. Red Sandalwood Furniture, Beijing, 2008, pl. 73; and another huanghuali example in the Honolulu Academy of Arts, included in the exhibition Chinese Hardwood Furniture in Hawaiian Collections, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu, 1982, cat. no. 13.
Sotheby's. Ming Imperial Furniture- The Biegucang Collection. 08 Apr 09. Hong Kong www.sothebys.com photo courtesy Sotheby's
