A rare blue and white ‘peony’ jar, guan Yuan dynasty

of baluster form, superbly potted with wide swelling shoulders gently tapering to a slightly flared foot, surmounted by a short upright neck with lipped rim, deftly painted with a broad scroll of six large peony blooms, each differently rendered with a luxuriant array of petals, borne on the same undulating scroll with attendant buds and foliage, all above a classic scroll band, the shoulder encircled with a composite floral scroll and the foot with a band of petal lappets enclosing pendent cloud-like trefoils and rings, painted to the neck with a band of turbulent breaking waves, the jar covered overall with a transparent glaze slightly tinged to blue, the broad foot ring and recessed base unglazed

An L-shaped rim crack measuring approximately 165mm. The crack has been partly cleaned but is still faintly visible. A restored 30mm rim chip. The neck and rim slightly warped. Otherwise in good general condition, with some surface scratching and wear all over, and minor firing imperfections. The cobalt blue of a slightly greyer tone than as seen in the catalogue image.
"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."

In its shape, design and painting style, the present vessel is an archetypal example of 14^th century blue and white porcelain. It represents the final stage of the gradual alterations in proportions of the shape known as guan, in which the neck became more distinctive, the shoulders broader and the body expanded to make the vessel appear stable and balanced. The powerful profile of this guan, with its dramatic swelling of the body that is at its widest just above the middle, is highly attractive. Although the form was developed earlier and can be found in Song wares such as Longquan celadon, qingbai and brown-glazed Cizhou-type wares, the Yuan guanpresented a new aesthetic image with its striking blue and white decorative scheme.

 

The painting seen on this jar encompasses the most characteristic elements of Yuan porcelain design: the peony scroll, wave border, classic scroll and lappets. Although the demand for blue and white guan was considerable from its initial manufacture, not only in China but particularly in the Middle East as well as South East Asian, each piece was individually potted and finished.

 

Guan of this type are well-known, however the present piece is notable for the composite floral scroll adorning the shoulder as these vessels are more commonly decorated with a lotus scroll; for example see one in the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, published in Wang Qingzheng, Underglaze Blue and Red, Hong Kong, 1993, pl. 24; another sold in our New York rooms, 18^th September 2007, lot 246; and a third sold in these rooms, 10^th November 2010, lot 32. Compare a jar painted with a floral scroll depicting the four seasons, from the collection of Charles A. Dana, sold in our New York rooms, 20^th September 2000, lot 101.