Lot 1919
  • 1919

A FINE AND MAGNIFICENT BLUE AND WHITE VASE, TIANQIUPING SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

Estimate
20,000,000 - 25,000,000 HKD
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Description

THIS IS A PREMIUM LOT. CLIENTS WHO WISH TO BID ON PREMIUM LOTS MAY BE REQUESTED BY SOTHEBY'S TO COMPLETE THE PRE-REGISTRATION APPLICATION FORM AND TO DELIVER TO SOTHEBY'S A DEPOSIT OF HK$1,000,000, OR SUCH OTHER HIGHER AMOUNT AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY SOTHEBY'S, AND ANY FINANCIAL REFERENCES, GUARANTEES AND/OR SUCH OTHER SECURITY AS SOTHEBY'S MAY REQUIRE IN ITS ABSOLUTE DISCRETION AS SECURITY FOR THEIR BID. THE BIDnow ONLINE BIDDING SERVICE IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR PREMIUM LOTS.



the globular body exquisitely painted with a wide composite floral scroll with large and small blooms amidst curled leaves, including lotus, peony, hibiscus, and chrysanthemum flowers between a band of upright lappets encircling the slightly recessed foot and a border of blue-ground pendant ruyi heads, with reserved designs, enclosing alternately floral medallions and whorls, below a band within double-line borders with formal foliate designs divided by stylised florets at the shoulder, all below a columnar, slightly flaring neck further painted with an undulating leafy lotus scroll below a rolling wave border at the mouth, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark

Provenance

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 13th November 1990, lot 234.

Literature

Sotheby's Hong Kong – Twenty Years, Hong Kong, 1993, pl. 165.

Condition

Except for a minor glaze pull of about 1 cm to the base, as well as some surface wear and scratches, the overall condition is excellent.
"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."

Catalogue Note

Impressive large blue and white vases of this form were made in a variety of design band decoration around the shoulder and neck, while the main motif on the body remains united with an elaborate composite flower scroll inspired by Ming prototypes.  For example, see a Qianlong mark and period vase illustrated in The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, pl. 232; one sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 20th March 1990, lot 594; and two further related vessels offered in these rooms, 30th April 1996, lot 436 and 29th April 1997, lot 626.

For the Ming inspiration of the painted decoration see a Yongle meiping in the Shanghai Museum illustrated in Wang Qingzheng, Underglaze Blue and Red, Hong Kong, 1993, pl. 53; and another early Ming vase finely painted in classic contrasting tones of dark cobalt blue with scrolling meander of leafy stems and flower blooms, in the Freer Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., published in Oriental Ceramics, The World's Great Collections, Tokyo, New York, San Francisco, 1980-82, vol. 9, pl. 92.