Lot 3003
  • 3003

A FINE AND RARE GUAN-TYPE JAR SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

Estimate
2,000,000 - 3,000,000 HKD
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Description

elegantly potted with a generous rounded body sweeping up to a waisted neck and flared lipped mouthrim, all supported on a recessed base, covered overall by an unctuous and flawless caesious-coloured glaze subtly pooling in a thicker layer toward the base and stopping neatly above the footring, the latter dressed in a brown wash imitating the purplish body of the Song dynasty guan ware, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character seal mark

Provenance

Collection of T.Y. Chao.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 19th May 1987, lot 287.

Exhibited

Ch'ing Porcelain from the Wah Kwong Collection, Art Gallery, Institute of Chinese Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1973, cat. no. 16.

Condition

There are some light scratches and few occasional very minor impurities of pin-prick bubbles on the surface glaze but apart from this the vase is in overall very good condition. The actual colour is quite close to the catalogue illustration.
"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

The Qianlong Emperor is famous for his fondness for Imperial stonewares of the Song dynasty (960-1279) and adorned many of the pieces with his poems that had been inspired by them. Under his reign, glazes imitating Jun, Ding, guan, Ge and Ru wares, the five ‘official’ wares of the Song dynasty, were created to cover a range of carefully selected forms in the present piece. The high level of skill in ‘recreating’ every aspect of Song ware is evidenced in the foot which has been left unglazed and stained dark brown to imitate the prototype.

A closely related example was sold in our London rooms, 7th December 1993, lot 275; and another was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1st/3rd May 1994, lot 726. For the inspiration of this piece compare a guan jar from the Eumorfopoulos collection and now in the British Museum, London, included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition The Ceramic Art of China, London, 1971, cat. no. 104, col. pl. 7.