A RARE BLUE AND WHITE 'PEONY AND WAVE' VASE YUAN DYNASTY

the finely potted pear shaped body rising from a short spreading foot to a tall trumpet neck with flaring rim, freely painted around the exterior in rich cobalt-blue tones with a leafy undulating peony scroll, all reserved on a dense wave ground, the everted rim with a classic scroll band with edge dressed in brown

A Japanese Collection.

The vase has a slight lean to one side with a later-mounted metal rim. There are three short vertical 1 cm potitng flaws on the belly. There are light scratches to the glaze. The cobalt blue is brilliantly applied and the vase is in quite good overall condition.
"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."

Vases of this type are very rare although a related example, but of slightly larger dimensions and with an additional floral diaper band encircling the foot, in the Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City, is illustrated in Zhu Yuping, Yuan dai qinghua ci, Shanghai, 2000, p. 274, and in Yuandai ciqi, Beijing, 1998, pl. 99A, together with a vase of this form and stylised wave ground with crashing waves above a row of lappets, pl. 99B. 

According to Zhu Yuping, vases of this type were made for export to the west of China (see Zhu Yuping, op. cit., p. 274). Compare the decoration of a large blue and white dish similarly composed of a moulded peony scroll against an underglaze blue wave-pattern ground, in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum Istanbul, vol. 2, London, 1986, col. pl. 561.