A FINE AND RARE TEADUST-GLAZED VASE SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

delicately potted with an ovoid body rising from a concave base, sweeping up to a slightly tapered neck, covered overall in an olive-coloured glaze flecked with a fine yellow mist, the base incised with a six-character seal mark, wood stand

Hosokawa Morisada Collection ten II – Shinno jiki, Persia no touki [Morisada Hosokawa Collection exhibition II – Qing porcelains and Persian ceramics], Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art, Kumamoto, 1993, cat. no. 66.

Morisada Hosokawa, Mokumei goshiki: Shinchō jiki [Bewildering colours: Qing Dynasty porcelains], Tokyo, 1992, no. 14.

The overall condition is very good. The actual colour is very similar 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."

The present vase is particularly notable for its lustrous and deep tea-dust glaze, which has been achieved through the precipitation of yellow crystal that stands out against the dark green background, producing what is known in Chinese aschayemo or ‘tea-leaf dust’ glaze effect. Successfully fired vessels have many stipples that make the glaze appear especially rich, as seen in this vase.

A related vase of slightly smaller size, included in the exhibition Chinese Art from the Collection of James W. and Marilynn Alsdorf, Arts Club of Chicago, Chicago, 1970, cat. no. c73, was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 23rd March 1993, lot 741; another was sold in these rooms, 29th November 1977, lot 89; and a third, from the Robert Chang collection, was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 31st May 2010, lot 1906.

Qianlong mark and period vases of this form are also known covered in guan and ru type glazes; a guan-type jar was included in the exhibition Qing Imperial Monochromes. The Zande Lou Collection, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 2005, cat. no. 35; another, from the W.W. Winkworth collection, was sold in our London rooms, 12th December 1972, lot 149; and a ru-type jar from the collection of Robert Chang, was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 2nd November 1999, lot 503.