A collection of chinese monochromes, Qianlong, Yongzheng, Daoguang & Qing dynasty @ Christie's Hong Kong on december 2009

A fine and extremely rare 'black' teadust glazed vase. Qianlong incised six-character sealmark and of the period (1736-1795). Image 2009 Christie's Ltd

Of archaic bronze form, the ovoid body flanked by a pair of ribbed 'C'-shaped handles surmounted by ruyi heads, between a pair of raised flanges at the shoulder, the flared neck and splayed foot each encircled with four further relief moulded flanges, covered overall in an even lush unctuous glaze of deep, moss-green tone - 13 in. (32.5 cm.) high, stand, three Japanese wood boxes. Estimate on request

清乾隆 茶葉末釉如意耳出戟橄欖瓶 六字篆書刻款

在1933年雙軒庵的拍賣目錄中，著名學者上田恭輔對此瓶作出了詳細的探討。他在文章中寫道，此瓶為仿古樣式，並相信所有茶葉末釉瓶均為仿古青銅器而作。此瓶的釉色偏黑，像是仿青銅器上的銅鏽色。傳世品中如此深色的茶葉末釉非常罕見，為茶葉末釉瓷中之佳作。

傳世品中於此瓶相同的茶葉末釉瓶未有所見，唯一件釉色偏黃的2008年5月27日於香港拍賣，拍品1591號。

此器來源顯赫，曾分別為日本著名收藏家松本重太郎松下幸之助所藏。

松本重太郎 (1844-1913)，號雙軒庵，明治時期關西著名企業家及藝術品收藏家。他創立日本第百三十銀行、南海鐵路及山陽鐵道。他和兒子松本枩蔵一起建立了一批著名的收藏。

松下幸之助 (1894 – 1989)，是日本著名跨國企業「松下電器」的創始人，被人稱為「經營之神」、「事業部」、「終身僱傭制」、「年功序列」等日本企業的管理制度都由他首創。1979年創立財團法人「松下政經塾」，以培養日本國家領導人著稱。

Provenance : The So Ken Un collection, property belonging to Mr. Jyutaro Matsumoto, the owner of the Kyushu Electric Railroad Company
Konosuke Matsushita (1894-1989)

Literature: Tokyo Bijutsu Club auction catalogue for the So Ken An collection, 1933, lot 206 (sold for Yen 19,000)
Kyoto National Museum, The Special Exhibition in Memory of the New Building, Catalogue 1967, no. 311

Exhibited: Kyoto National Museum, The Special Exhibition in Memory of the New Building, 1966

Notes: The present vase was previously in the So Ken Un collection. The name 'So Ken Un' was the pseudonym of Mr. Jyutaro Matsumoto (1844-1913), one of the most famous businessmen and art collectors in the Kansai region during Meiji Period (1868-1912). He founded and owned several companies including Dai Hyaku Sanjyu Bank, Nankai Electric Railway, and Sanyo Electric Railway. Together Mr. Jyutaro Matsumoto and his son, Mr. Kozo Matsumoto formed a remarkable and renowned collection.

In the 1933 auction catalogue entry for the So Ken Un collection, renowned Japanese scholar Ueda Kyosuke, discussed this vase in detail. He refers to the vase as of hakuzan form (or archaic style) and writes that of all the teadust-glazed vases of bronze form, this vase is among the most pleasing. The glaze, he writes, is of kurosoba tone, literally 'black soba', in imitation of archaic bronze patina; dark, rich blackish-green teadust tone, this is the finest example.

The ownership of the vase was later transferred to Mr Konosuke Matsushita (1894-1989) who was the founder of Panasonic. He was one of the most admired managers in Japan and was often referred to as the "God of management". Mr Matsushita's management philosophy was widely adopted among Japanese enterprises and laid the foundation of economic growth in Japan. His influence also carried over into Japanese politics when he founded the Matsushita Seikei Jyuku (The Matsushita Institute of government and management) in 1980. The aim of this institute was to train young politicians and many of today's Japanese politicians carried out their studies at the prestigious Matsushita Institute.

Compare this vase with two other teadust vases of the same form, the first illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl. 229; the other in the collection of Mr. Matsuzo Matsumoto, illustrated in Sokenan Bijutsu Shusei Zuroku, Kushu Denki Kido Gaisha, Japan, 1993, no. 206.

Compare also to a Ru-type vase of this elegant shape included in the exhibition held in Toyota prefecture, The Hirota Fukkosai Collection, Ceramics, Tokyo, 2007, fig. 169, now in the National Museum of Tokyo. A vase of this form, but of a much lighter golden olive-green colour was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 May 2008, lot 1591.

A very fine and rare flambe-glazed song-style bottle vase. Qianlong impressed six-character sealmark and of the period (1736-1795). Image 2009 Christie's Ltd

The slightly compressed globular body with moulded horizontal bowstrings around the waist and shoulder, covered overall in a brilliant flambe glaze of deep reddish-purple tone mottled with milky pale blue to the body and the neck, the rim glazed brown draining to a crackled, pale greyish-celadon tone in the interior, the foot unglazed exposing the biscuit, the base covered in a caramel-brown glaze - 17 in. (43.3 cm.) high, box. Estimate HK$2,800,000 - HK$4,500,000 ($362,886 - $583,209)

清乾隆 窰變釉盤口弦紋瓶 六字篆書刻款

Provenance: Previously sold at Christie's Hong Kong, The Imperial Sale, 27 April 1997, lot 62

Literature: Christie's Hong Kong, Christie's 20 Years in Hong Kong 1986-2006, Hong Kong, 2006, p. 158

Notes: Compare with a similar vase in the Eumorfopoulos collection, illustrated in the Catalogue, vol. 5, col. pl. LXVII, no. E390.

Vases of this type were inspired by the Song dynasty Guanyao prototypes. This particular shape was revived by the Qing court, and appeared to be popular during the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods. The present vase compares well with a Guan-type example painted by Giuseppe Castiglione, dated Yongzheng First Year (1723), in the National Palace Museum collection, Taipei, illustrated by M. Beurdeley and G. Raindre, Qing Porcelain, pl. 216, suggesting that the present lot dates to the early period of the Qianlong reign. Compare with two Yongzheng-marked examples, the first of this same size was included in the Special Exhibition of Qing Dynasty Monochromes, National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in the Catalogue, pl. 133, pl. 79; and the other vase, smaller in size (37.5 cm.), was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 May 2006, lot 1255.

A fine and very rare guan-type hexagonal vase, hu. Yongzheng six-character sealmark and of the period (1723-1735). Image 2009 Christie's Ltd

Of compressed hexagonal section, the body with a prominent shoulder rising to a waisted neck with slightly lipped rim, the neck flanked by a pair of tubular handles, all supported on a high flared foot, covered overall in a greyish-blue glaze with fine-crackling - 18 1/2 in. (47 cm.) high, wood stand, Japanese wood box. Estimate HK$2,500,000 - HK$3,500,000 ($324,005 - $453,607)

清雍正 仿官釉貫耳六方瓶 六字篆書款

Provenance: A Japanese private collection

Exhibited: Yamanaka Shokai, Tokyo, 1939, Asian Arts and Antiques Exhibition, Tokyo, illustrated in the Catalogue, fig. 164

Notes: Although vases of this form decorated in blue and white, as well as crackle glazes, are well known in the Qianlong period, there are relatively few extant examples from the Yongzheng reign. Two other hu-shaped vases of this type were sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 26 April 2004, lot 1052; and 28 November 2005, lot 1316.

Compare the form with a smaller Yongzheng-marked blue and white example in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Blue-and-White Ware of the Ch'ing Dynasty, Book 1, Hong Kong, 1968, pp. 77-88, pls. 6, 6a & 6b.

A fine and rare ru-type mallow-shaped narcissus bowl. Qianlong six-character sealmark and of the period (1736-1795). Image 2009 Christie's Ltd

Made in the shape of an eight-petalled mallow flower with lobed sides rising to an everted rim and raised on three cabriole legs, applied all over with a thick lavender glaze suffused with a dense white crackle leaving the tips of the feet dressed in brown, with nine spur marks in the countersunk base beneath the glaze - 8 5/8 in. (21.8 cm.) across, box. Estimate HK$1,200,000 - HK$1,500,000 ($155,523 - $194,403)

清乾隆 仿汝釉葵式三足盆 六字篆書款

Provenance: The Collection of Nelson Elliot Bunker, former aide-de-camp to General Douglas MacArthur, sold at Sotheby's London, 16 June 1999, lot 809

Notes: Qing dynasty bulb bowls of this form are based on Song prototypes, such as the brushwashers in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the Exhibition of Sung Dynasty Kuan Ware, 1989, nos. 135-143.

Compare to a Ge-type tripod vessel of this form, also with a Qianlong seal mark from the Robert Chang collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 2 November 1999, lot 517.

Two very large sacrificial blue-glazed vases, tianqiuping. Qianlong six-character sealmarks and of the period (1736-1795). Image 2009 Christie's Ltd

Each of globular form rising to a tall, slightly flared, columnar neck, applied overall with a thick deep glaze, the interior and base with a transparent glaze - 21 1/4 in. (54 cm.) high, boxes (2). Estimate HK$1,000,000 - HK$1,500,000 ($129,602 - $194,403)

清乾隆 霽藍釉天球瓶兩枚 六字篆書款

Provenance: One previously sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 April 2007, lot 707, and the other sold at Christie's London, 9 November 2007, lot 314

Notes: Compare with a similar example of this cobalt-blue tone included in the exhibition, The Wonders of the Potter's Palette, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1984, no. 85.

A rare small pink-enamelled bottle vase. Daoguang six-character sealmark and of the period (1821-1850). Image 2009 Christie's Ltd

Finely potted with a globular body surmounted by a slender cylindrical neck, the exterior covered with a thick enamel of vivid pink tone - 6 1/2 in. (16.4 cm.) high. Estimate HK$700,000 - HK$1,000,000 ($90,721 - $129,602)

清道光 胭脂紅釉天球瓶 六字篆書款

瓶長頸，溜肩，圓腹，臥足。通體胭脂紅地，底施白釉，內青花書「大清道光年製」篆書款。

胭脂紅釉創燒於康熙末年，因這種紅釉由歐洲傳入，故稱「洋金紅」或「西洋紅」，由於釉色如婦女所用的胭脂，故又稱「胭脂紅」。此瓶釉色嬌艷，玲瓏俊秀。

此器原為仇焱之所藏，1980年11月25日於香港蘇富比拍賣，拍品77號。1997年3月30日於星加坡佳士得養志堂珍藏專拍中拍賣，拍品326號；2004年11月1日於香港佳士得再次拍賣，拍品1166號。

Provenance: Edward T. Chow, previously sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 25 November 1980, lot 77
The Yangzhitang Collection, previously sold at Christie's Singapore, 30 March 1997, lot 326, and again at Christie's Hong Kong, 1 November 2004, lot 1166

Exhibited: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Imperial Porcelain of the Late Qing from the Kwan Collection, 1983, illustrated in the Catalogue, pl. 77
National Museum of History, Taipei, Imperial Porcelain of the Late Qing from the Kwan Collection, 1985, illustrated in the Catalogue, pl. 77

A teadust-glazed pear-shaped vase. Qianlong incised six-character sealmark and of the period (1736-1795). Image 2009 Christie's Ltd

Strongly potted, the compressed globular body rises to a broad cylindrical neck, all raised on a splayed foot covered with a characteristic glaze of olive-green tone, reserving the square sealmark on the base, the unglazed foot ring applied with a brown wash - 13 in. (33 cm.) high, stand, Japanese wood box. Estimate HK$500,000 - HK$700,000 ($64,801 - $90,721)

清乾隆 茶葉末釉荸薺扁瓶 六字篆書刻款

Provenance: A Japanese private collection

Notes: Similar teadust vases of this shape and size are known, including a pair formerly in the Toguri Museum of Art; one sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 May 2006, lot 1354; the other sold at Sotheby's London, 9 June 2004, lot 11. Compare also one from the T. Y. Chao collection, sold at Christie's New York, 20 March 1997, lot 128; one illustrated by R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994, vol. 2, no. 936; and one from the Victoria and Albert Museum, illustrated by R. Kerr, Chinese Ceramics, Porcelain of the Qing Dynasty 1644-1911, London, 1986, fig. 25.

A fine and very rare aubergine-glazed vase, meiping. Qianlong incised six-character sealmark and of the period (1736-1795). Image 2009 Christie's Ltd

Finely potted, the vase is of characteristic elongated form with an outward tapering body, the broad rounded shoulder rising to a short waisted neck with lipped mouth rim, covered overall with a rich aubergine glaze stopping on the foot ring, the augergine glazed base incised with the reign mark - 8 5/8 in. (22 cm.) high. Estimate HK$300,000 - HK$400,000 ($38,881 - $51,841)

清乾隆 茄皮紫釉梅瓶 六字篆書刻款

Provenance: A Japanese private collection

Notes: Vases decorated with this aubergine glaze are extremely rare, and an identical meiping vase of this glaze and almost the same size from the Vera Goldschlarger collection was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 April 2001, lot 666. A related aubergine glaze bottle vase, also impressed with a Qianlong sealmark from the Baur Collection, is illustrated by J. Ayers, Chinese Ceramics in the Baur Collection, vol. 2, A475, no. 323. Compare also two Qianlong-marked aubergine-glazed archaistic tripod vessels, jue: the Baur example is illustrated, ibid., no. 322; and the other from the Robert Chang collection, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 2 November 1999, lot 507.

A rare pair of yellow-enamelled wine cups. Yongzheng six-character marks within double-circles and of the period (1723-1735). Image 2009 Christie's Ltd

Each delicately potted with deep rounded sides rising from a short straight foot to a flared rim, covered on the exterior with a rich egg-yolk yellow enamel pooling slightly at the small ring foot, the interior and base with a transparent glaze - 2 3/8 in. ( 6.2 cm.) diam. (2) Estimate HK$250,000 - HK$350,000 ($32,401 - $45,361)

清雍正 黃釉小盃一對 雙圈雙行六字楷書款

Provenance: A French private collection

Notes: A similar example is illustrated by Peter Lam in Shimmering Colours, Monochromes of the Yuan to Qing Periods, The Zhu Yue Tang Collection, Art Museum, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005, no. 128, p. 204

A pair of yellow-enamelled incised 'dragon and phoenix' dishes. Yongzheng six-character marks within double-circles and of the period (1723-1735). Image 2009 Christie's Ltd

Each finely potted and incised on the interior medallion with an ascending dragon and a descending phoenix encircling a central Shou symbol amidst cloud-scrolls, the exterior decorated with the Eight Buddhist Emblems supported on floral sprays, covered throughout with a rich yellow glaze, the base with a transparent glaze - 5 1/2 in. (14 cm.) diam., stands, box (2). Estimate HK$200,000 - HK$300,000 ($25,920 - $38,881)

清雍正 黃釉刻龍鳳八吉祥盤一對 雙圈雙行六字楷書款

Notes: A dish of this size and pattern in the Ohlmer Collection, Roemer Museum, Hildesheim, Germany, is illustrated in Chinesisches Porzellan, Mainz am Rhein, 1981, pl. 103; and a pair from the Paul and Helen Bernat collection was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 15 November 1988, lot 57; and another pair from Stephen Junkunc III collection was sold at Christie's New York, 18 September 2003, lot 358.

A flambe glazed bottle vase. Qing dynasty, 18th century. Image 2009 Christie's Ltd

The globular body rising into a straight cylindrical neck, covered with a crackled glaze of dark crushed-strawberry tone subtly streaked in deep, milky purplish blue and thinning to lavender at the rim - 14 in. (35.5 cm.) high - Estimate HK$60,000 - HK$80,000 ($7,776 - $10,368)

清十八世紀 窰變釉長頸瓶

Provenance: Blaflat Collection, Norway

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. 1 December 2009. Hong Kong www.christies.com