A rare blue and white 'Three friends of winter' vase. Ming Dynasty, circa 1500

A rare blue and white 'Three friends of winter' vase. Ming Dynasty, circa 1500. Photo: Sotheby's

the baluster body rising from a high domed foot to a tall trumpet neck set with a pair of elephant-head handles, painted around the exterior in rich cobalt-blue tones with pine, prunus and bamboo between lotus lappet and ruyi bands, the neck with key-fret and stiff leaf bands; 21cm., 8 1/4 in.  Estimate 5,000—7,000 GBP. Lot Sold 10,625 GBP

PROVENANCE: Sotheby's London, 13th December 1988, lot 158.

NOTE: This vase is unusual both in shape and in design, although the decoration is reminiscent of Chenghua period beaker vases with related tall neck and the interior painted with plantain leaves radiating towards the rim illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglaze Red (III), Shanghai, 2000, pl. 50, 51 and 92; and another sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 2^nd May 2000, lot 656, the body finely painted with scenes of mossy garden rock flanked by palm, bamboo and lingzhi sprays.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 10 Nov 10, London www.sothebys.com