A 'DOUCAI' 'CHILONG' OVOID VASE QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD

of ovoid form with cylindrical sides rising from a short slightly spreading foot to a waisted neck and a flared rim, decorated overall in doucai enamels with five sinuous chilong intertwined amongst leafy floral tendrils, all between a border of lotus lappets enclosing floral sprays around the foot and a band of linked ruyi heads around the mouth, the rim bound with metal

There is a circa 68.5cm horse-shoe shaped crack with associated flakes running extensively across the body of the vase, this crack has been recently refilled and consolidated with restoration. The vase has been slighlty cut down and has a metal mount applied to it. There is a small (1.5cm) hairline crack running virtically from the rim.
"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."

This impressive vase is unusual for its design of chilong crawling amongst ornate leafy and flowering scrolls in the doucai technique. Such a design was more commonly rendered in copper red and underglaze blue; for example see an ovoid vase illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (III), Shanghai, 2000, pl. 208; a meiping sold at Christie's Tokyo, 15^th February 1981, lot 313; and a large tianquiping sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 20^th March 1990, lot 576. Compare also a double gourd vase similarly decorated with chilong clambering amongst lingzhi scrolls in copper red, with a Qianlong reign mark and of the period, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 8^th April 2010, lot 1867.

For doucai vases of related design, but depicting a five-clawed dragon and phoenix amidst comparable flowering scrolls, see one of baluster form sold twice in our Hong Kong rooms, 29^th November 1978, lot 326, and again, 22^nd May 1985, lot 177; and a cylindrical example with angled shoulders, sold in our Paris rooms, 9^th June 2010, lot 80.

The chi dragon was one of the 'true' dragons of the Ming dynasty, along with the five-clawed long and the four-clawed mang, and is described in Ming texts as the 'immature or hornless dragon'. Its main characteristics are a broad feline head, sinuous dragon body with little or no scales, rounded paws with short claws and a curly tail. By the Qing dynasty, the true identity of the Ming chilong as the 'child dragon' was lost and, as seen on this vase, it was depicted in adult-like form.