A LARGE 'LONGQUAN' CELADON-GLAZED VASE, MEIPING MING DYNASTY, 15TH CENTURY

the sturdily-potted ovoid body rising from an elegant waisted foot to a round shoulder and narrow waisted neck, finely and freely incised around the exterior with a broad band of four composite floral sprays, all between a stiff leaf band at the base and a peony and lotus-lappet collar encircling the neck, covered overall with an even olive-green glaze

This vase belongs to a group of high quality Longquan celadon wares produced in the late 14th century/early 15th century, and which are decorated with carved designs that may be compared with underglaze-blue decoration of the period.  During the early Ming Dynasty, the Longquan kilns seem to have worked in close cooperation with the imperial porcelain kilns at Jingdezhen; making wares of similiar form, decoration and quality, perhaps under imperial instruction.

Compare related meiping vases, but of a smaller size to the present piece.  See an undecorated vase with similar fine quality glaze, sold in these rooms, 1st November 1994, lot 18.  Also see a Longquan vase carved with prunus branches and bamboo, sold in these rooms, 8th April 2007, lot 733.  See another two carved meiping vases, one with prunus branches and bamboo, the other with peony scrolls, published in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pls. 580 and 581.