A FINE CHINESE 'RU'-TYPE VASE QIANLONG SEAL MARK AND PERIOD

of archaistic form, with rounded shoulders beneath a cylindrical neck set with two short tubular handles, all covered in an even, unctuous gray-blue glaze, thinning to white at the neck rim and at the tops of the handles, the footrim dressed in dark brown

Very good condition. There is a pinhead sized area of roughness to the glaze at the top of one handle which shows as a tiny brown speck. There is a small dark brown pinhead sized spot in the glaze on the lower edge of the other handle. There are occasional very minor short scratches to the glaze around the widest part of the body. Please note the color of the glaze is of a somewhat richer grey/blue than is suggested by the catalogue photo.
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.

Imitations of the celebrated Song dynasty 'Ge', 'Ru' and 'Guan' glazes were extremely popular during the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods, and appear most often on vessel of archaistic form. 'Ru'-type glazes appear in a number of different blue and blue-gray shades, with some exhibiting a crackled surface and others smooth as in the present example. The brown wash on the foot was intended to simulate the dark brown bodies of many of the Song wares, and may also be seen on lots 15 and 19 in the present sale.

Although many different archaic forms were copied or adapted, the form of the present lot is extremely unusual, with tubular handles of this type appearing most frequently on 'Ge' or 'Ru'-type glazed vases of conventional fang hu form.