AN EXTREMELY RARE BLUE AND WHITE 'FLOWER' JAR, GUAN MING DYNASTY, YONGLE PERIOD

of finely potted ovoid form, the rounded sides rising to gently sloping shoulders below a short, slightly tapering neck, finely painted in classic contrasting tones of intense deep cobalt-blue with three pairs of flowering sprays comprising morning glory, millet and chrysanthemum, growing on uneven ground on slender branches with their associated foliage interspersed with tight and opening buds, interrupted by two smaller pairs of flowering grasses and decorative garden rocks, all between double-lines around the base and neck, the neatly cut footring encircling the white-glazed white-glazed recessed base 

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 29th April 1997, lot 532.

There is a hairline crack across the diameter of the base with two attendant cracks on extending from the footrim towards the centre. The glaze crackles extend around the perimeter of the base. There are two 1cm hairline cracks alone the rim of the neck. The shoulder has some minor glaze abrasions / natural wear. The cracks have not been covered over with repainting. The condition of the body of the vessel is very good and the colour control is very even and close to the color in the catalogue.
"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."

Blue and white porcelain of the Yongle period rank among the finest in the history of Chinese ceramics.  Yongle blue and white designs became an inspiration for later wares, and were copied throughout the Ming and Qing periods, although it was not until the Yongzheng period that potters were able to acieve a close resemblance. 

The present blue and white guan decorated with the design of a garden scene belongs to the most imaginative designs conceived in the Yongle period.  Only two other guan of similar design appear to have been published; one with its cover, formerly in the collection of Mrs. Alfred Clark, is now in the British Museum, London, illustrated in Jessica Rawson, Ming Ceramics, London, 2001, pl.3:23; the second, also without cover, was sold in these rooms, 29th September 1992, lot 471.  The present guan is the only one showing the morning glory flowers, which on the British Museum example is replaced by pinks; but the flowers on the three guan have all been selected from the extensive repertoire of plants represented on the large dishes of the period.  For examples of large blue and white dishes decorated with garden scene; two in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, of which one is published in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray, vol.II, 1986, pl.596; one illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pl.162; and the fourth in the Palace Museum, Beijing, published in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Monochrome Porcelain, Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red, vol.II, Hong Kong, 2000, pl.53.  The present guan also appears to be the only example with pierced rockwork, which on dishes is the most prominent feature.

The design was later revived on jars of Chenghua mark and period.  See two examples which follows the design of the present piece very closely; one in the National Palace Museum, published in Catalogue of the Special Exhibition of Ch'eng-hua Porcelain Ware, Taipei, 2003, pl.85; and the second, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30th May 2006, lot 1387.