A RARE BLUE AND WHITE 'NINE DRAGON' BOTTLE VASE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF JIAQING

the globular body painted with nine dragons in pursuit of a flaming pearl amidst scattered scrolling clouds, all above crashing waves and a key-fret bordered foot, the tall waisted neck tapering to a flaring mouth further painted with a ruyi-head border, the base inscribed with the six-character seal mark in underglaze-blue

TheThere is an 8cm star crack on the base. The rest of the vase in very good condition. The glaze is slightly greyer and the blue is a bit less purple than in the catalogue illustration .
"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."

In its form and decoration the present vase is closely after a large Qianlong 'Nine Dragon' vase, from the Qing court collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglaze Red (III), Shanghai, 2000, pl. 118. For Jiaqing vases painted with the same design see a bottle-form vessel included in the Illustrated Catalogue of Ch'ing Dynasty Porcelain in the National Palace Museum, vol. II, Tokyo, 1981, pl. 93, of similar size to the present example and with a ruyi band around the neck and key-fret border around the foot; and another sold in these rooms, 2nd May 1995, lot 86. Compare also a vase of related form painted with three dragons amongst clouds published in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglaze Red (III), op. cit.,pl. 143.