A BLUE AND WHITE 'DRAGON AND TIGER' BALUSTER VASE QING DYNASTY, MID-17TH CENTURY

the body of slender baluster form rising from a flared foot and surmounted by a cylindrical neck with galleried rim, painted in bright cobalt-blue tones with a tiger in a rocky landscape crouching and looking up at a ferocious dragon clasping a flaming pearl in its claws emerging from misty cloud scrolls beside a gnarled pine tree, all above a band of linked pendent ruyi scrolls and below a diaper band with four oval cartouches enclosing beribboned Auspicious Symbols, the neck encircled with linked upright ruyi scrolls, keyfret pattern and a band of swirls, the rim bordered by another keyfret band, the base inscribed with an apocryphal six-character Chenghua mark

The vase has a circa 30cm crack running horizontally at mid-level below the shoulder, the rim is bruised with two parallel discoloured firing cracks (2.5cm) and several hairlines running adjacent to them. There is a 1 x 1cm chip to the feet, minor surface scratchings, and glaze firing imperfections such as burst glaze bubbles, iron spots etc.
"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."