A RARE SMALL BLUE AND WHITE OVOID 'DRAGON' VASE MARK AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG

of slighly compressed globular form narrowing at the short neck and mouth, painted in bright cobalt blue with two archaistic dragons, each with hooked claws and curling bifurcated tail, between double-line borders and a single line at the mouth, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark in double-circle

The overall condition is very good, apart from some surface scratches and minute pinholes, including a dirty one to the shoulder.
"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."

Yongzheng jars of this form and design are rare; a closely related example of slightly larger dimensions, from the J.M. Hu Family collection, was sold in our New York rooms, 4^th June 1985, lot 24; and another with a cover in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated in Qingdai yuyao ciqi, vol. 1, pt. II, Beijing, 2005, pl. 37, together with a jar of this form but decorated with fruit and flower sprays, pl. 38.

Almost abstract in form, the archaistic scrolling style of the dragon on the present vase is inspired by highly stylised phoenix designs that adorned mallet vases of the Kangxi period; for example see one in the Meiyintang collection illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 2, London, 1994, pl. 754. Compare also a Yongzheng waterpot enamelled in iron red with two dragons of this type, with a reign mark and of the period, from the Edward T. Chow collection, sold twice in these rooms, 25^th November 1980, lot 127, and 28^th April 1998, lot 813.