A BLUE AND WHITE 'FRUIT' MEIPING SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

the shouldered body decorated in 15th century style with three flowering branches above boughs of peach, pomergranate and lychee, each rising from a sprig of fungus, evenly spaced above a double line and a band of overlapping upright leaves encircling the base, the shoulders with a collar of radiating lotus petal panels and the short narrow waisted neck with florettes and leaves below the lipped rim

One of the pair of vases sold in Sotheby's New York, 24th May 1974, lot 420.
T.Y. Chao Collection.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 19th May 1987, lot 270.

Exhibition of Ming and Ch'ing Porcelain from the Collection of the T.Y. Chao Family Foundation, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1978, cat. no. 79.

There is a Y-shaped star crack on the side of the pomegranates (approximately 15cm in length). The rest of the vase is in very good condition - balanced potting, good control of the cobalt with strong and even tones throughout.
"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 marks of lots 270 and 271 were switched in the back of the 1987 T.Y. Chao catalogue.

A Qianlong vase of this pattern is illustrated by Macintosh, Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, col. pl. IX (top left); and one from the Edward T. Chow Collection was sold in these rooms, 19th May 1981, lot 546. Another is illustrated in Min Shin no Bijutsu, pl. 167, together with a meiping painted with the same design in underglaze-red and blue, pl. 168.

For the 15th century origin of this design compare the vase included in the Illustrated Catalogue of Ming Dynasty Porcelain in the National Palace Museum, Yongle ware, pl. 12.