A fine and very rare underglaze-blue and copper-red puce enamelled vase, hu mark and period of Yongzheng

of archaistic hu shape, rising from a splayed foot to generous rounded sides, finely enamelled to the exterior in bright copper-red with large lotus blooms amid dense scrolling leafy stems, interspersed with smaller blooms, the underglaze-blue enhanced with simulated 'heaping and piling' effect, all between a classic scroll at the mouth and upright lappets below, set on the sides with a pair of stylised dragon handles, the foot with a further classic scroll, the base with a six-character xx mark in underglaze-blue    

A similar Yongzheng vase in Beijing is illustrated in Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong. Qing Porcelain from the Palace Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1989, pl. 22; another in the Idemitsu collection is published in Sekai toji zenshu, vol. 15, Tokyo, 1983, pl. 153; and one designated as important cultural art object is included in Toji taikei, vol. 46, Tokyo, 1973.

Compare also a vase of this form and design included in the exhibition Ch’ing Porcelain from the Wah Kwong Collection, The Art Gallery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1973, cat.no. 68; another sold in our London rooms, 30^th March 1978, lot 208; and a third example sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1^st October 1991, lot 857.