Rare Vase à six cols en porcelaine bleu blanc, Liukongping Chine, dynastie Qing, marque et époque Qianlong (1736-1795)

composé d'un vase balustre central entouré de cinq vases plus petits de forme identique, chaque vase s'élargissant en un long col étroit aux bords évasés, le col central surplombant les autres, entièrement peint d'un bleu nuancé de délicates fleurs de lotus dans des rinceaux feuillagés encadrés d'une frise de pétales enserrant le pied et têtes de ruyi marquant l'épaulement, le col souligné de palmettes, marque en cachet à quatre caractères en bleu sous couverte à la base

Collection of Jean Antoine Ernest Constans (1833–1913), former Minister of the Interior (1880-1881), Gouverneur Général of Indochine (from 1887-1888) and Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire (1898-1909). Thence by descent in the family.

The vase is in overall very good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

With its conjoined six vases, six necks and spouts, the present vase presented a technical challenge even to the most experienced potter. Only few examples of this type are known, some of them slightly larger, others of similarly small size. The majority of these appear to have been covered with monochrome glazes as the monochrome glazes seem to have underlined the form of these vases. Among the known examples area a-dust glazed six-spouted vase formerly in the Qing Court Collection and now in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in the Catalogue of the Special Exhibition of K'ang-hsi, Yung-cheng and Ch'ien-lung Porcelain Ware from the Ch'ing Dynasty in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1986, cat.no. 96, and an example of the same small size covered with a clair-de-lune glaze, published in Treasures in the Royalty. The Offical Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, p. 326; also bearing a four-character Qianlong mark is a vase of this type and size in the Freer Gallery of Art, illustrated in Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, vol. 9, 1981, cat.no. 128; more recently, yet another celadon-glazed example sold in our New York rooms, 20th March 2012, lot 237.

Far fewer examples of this vase type are known where the form has further been embellished with a painted underglaze blue design. Compare, for instance, a closely related blue and white vase of this rare form and of the same size, also formerly in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures from the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglaze Red (III), Shanghai, 2000, cat.no. 124; compare also another closely related vase decorated overall with a scrolling lotus design, illustrated in Ethereal Elegance, Porcelain Vases of the Imperial Qing. The Huaihaitang Collection, Hong Kong, 2007, cat.no. 109.