A LARGE BLUE AND WHITE DOUBLE GOURD VASE JIAJING MARK AND PERIOD

the lower bulb painted with the 'Three Friends', pine, prunus and bamboo, separating scenes of cranes and deer below peach meander on the waisted middle, the upper bulb with two cranes separated by twisted shou characters flanked by prunus, bamboo and lingzhi fungus, Japanese wood box

Christie's Hong Kong, 26^th April 2004, lot 1032.

This large and impressive vase is in good overall condition with the exception of 5 x 10mm., and 5 x 20mm., restored chips to the footing, a four-pointed hairline crescent-shaped firing crack to the base (15cm., wide), a 3cm., long hairline crack to the inside edge of the footring, a shallow 1cm., wide flake to the base of the footring, a 1cm., wide glaze pull line at the shoulder of the lower bulb, a circa 1 x 2cm., section of over-painting at the rim possibly concealing a hairline crack, minor glaze firing imperfections including pin-hole glaze holes and iron spots, and light glaze scratches. It should be noted that the cobalt blue is of a slightly more brilliant blue tone than the catalogue illustration would suggest.
"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 present vase is impressive for its size, robust potting and decoration in deep blue cobalt which is characteristic of ceramics wares made during the height of Jiajing's reign. The design, much favoured by the emperor, is rich in symbolism: wishes for long life is represented by the cranes, peaches and lingzhi fungus, while the medallions containing inscriptions symbolise the wish for peace and prosperity.

A similar vase from the Harry Oppenheim collection and now in the British Museum, London, is illustrated in Jessica Harrison-Hall, Chinese Ceramics, London, 2001, pl. 9:35, together with a related double-gourd form vase painted with a continuous scene of figures in landscape, pl. 9.36. Another slightly larger vessel of this form and decoration, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, is published in Suzanne G. Valenstein, A Handbook of Chinese Ceramics, New York, 1975, pl. 166, where the author notes that although quantity became the ultimate goal at the Jingdezhen kilns and enormous orders from the Palace were to be filled, Jiajing wares can be appreciated for their enthusiastic, somewhat insouciant style and high spirited quality (ibid., p. 187).

Compare also a vase in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in Blue-and-White Ware of the Ming, book V, Taipei, 1963, pl. 4; together with a smaller double-gourd form vase painted with cranes pl. 5; and another closely related vase, in the Gemeentelijk Museum het Princessehof, Leeuwarden, published in Daisy Lion-Goldschmidt, Ming Porcelain, London, 1978, pl. 123.

See also a vase, from the collections of Mr. and Mrs. R.H.R. Palmer and T.Y. Chao, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 18^th November 1986, lot 53; another, sold in our New York rooms, 3^rd June 1992, lot 208; and a third example, from the collection of David Home, included in the exhibition Chinese Art, National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1944, cat. no. 599, and on loan to the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh, 1971-75, sold in our London rooms, 8^th June 1975, lot 127.