AN EXTREMELY RARE OCHRE-YELLOW INCISED 'DRAGON' VASE INCISED SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

THIS IS A PREMIUM LOT. CLIENTS WHO WISH TO BID ON PREMIUM LOTS MAY BE REQUESTED BY SOTHEBY'S TO COMPLETE THE PRE-REGISTRATION APPLICATION FORM AND TO DELIVER TO SOTHEBY'S A DEPOSIT OF HK$2,500,000, OR SUCH OTHER HIGHER AMOUNT AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY SOTHEBY'S, AND ANY FINANCIAL REFERENCES, GUARANTEES AND/OR SUCH OTHER SECURITY AS SOTHEBY'S MAY REQUIRE IN ITS ABSOLUTE DISCRETION AS SECURITY FOR THE BID. THE BIDnow ONLINE BIDDING SERVICE IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR PREMIUM LOTS.

 



of elegant baluster form, the sides rising from a recessed base to a wide rounded angular shoulder and a tall waisted neck with a flared rim, finely incised around the body with a dense design of five five-clawed dragons, one curling round the neck, one in a frontal view at the shoulder, two in different poses around the main part of the body, and the fifth emerging from crested waves at the base heading towards a 'flaming pearl', all surrounded by bats, clouds and flames, below a ruyi border at the rim, the piece covered overall with a rich ochre-yellow glaze, applied on the biscuit, the base similarly glazed and incised with a six-character seal mark

Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Morse.
S. Marchant & Son, London.
J.J. Lally & Co., New York.

Dragons in Chinese Art, China House Gallery, China Institute in America, New York, 1972, cat. no. 59.

Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 4, no. 1822.

There is a minute flake and associated very faint hairline (approx. 2 cm) that has been restored at the rim, otherwise the vase is in good condition. The actual colour of the glaze is very close, if not a fraction lighter, versus the catalogue illustration.
"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."

The elegantly shaped vase appears to be unique, the ochre-yellow colour of the glaze is very unusual, and yellow glazes in general are extremely rarely seen on vases, being almost exclusively used for bowls and dishes.

A vase of different form, covered with a very similar yellow glaze and similarly decorated with incised dragons, but with a Jiaqing reign mark, from the Huaihaitang collection, was included in the exhibition Ethereal Elegance. Porcelain Vases of the Imperial Qing. The Huaihaitang Collection, The Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2007-8, cat. no. 55.