A RARE 'RU'-TYPE ARCHAISTIC VASE (HU) QIANLONG SEAL MARK AND PERIOD

of sturdily potted hexagonal form, the waisted neck rising to an everted rim flanked by a pair of tubular handles, all above a raised splayed foot, covered overall with a soft grayish-blue glaze

Osaka Bijutsu Club auction, 14th - 16th December 1934, lot 802.
Yamanaka Shoten Collection.

Good condition. There is some typical crackling to the glaze overall. There is one small pinhead size burst air bubble and another pinhead air bubble with adjacent pinhead size bruise to the glaze on the rim. There is a 1/4 in. round burst air bubble to the glaze on the foot and another less than 1/8 in. both of which have been in painted with celadon color.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Compare a very similar vase also with an underglaze-blue Qianlong seal mark, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 26th October 2003, lot 50.

See also an almost identical vase illustrated in Sekai toji zenshu, vol. 12, Tokyo, 1956, fig. 46. Another ru-type vase of the same form but with a Yongzheng mark in the Palace Museum collection, is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Monochrome Porcelain, Hong Kong, 1999, no. 204.