A CELADON-GLAZED DRAGON-HANDLED MALLET VASE SONG DYNASTY |

the tapering cylindrical body surmounted by a tall columnar neck, flanked by a pair of dragon-fish handles, covered overall in a sea-green glaze with faint crackles

Collection of Dr Carl Kempe (1884-1967).
Sotheby's London, 5th November 2008, lot 537 (one of three).

Bo Gyllensvard, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl 98.

The rim has chips restored with overpaint covering almost one third of the mouth. Some characteristic shallow foot chips.
"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."

Celadon vases of this 'mallet' shape, which is generally known under the Japanese term kinuta, are among the most sought-after Longquan vessels. Kinuta vases with dragon-fish, feiyu, handles are rare, as they are more commonly known with phoenix handles. The mythological feiyu, considered a good omen, was a popular motif during the Yuan dynasty and may well have travelled along nomadic paths, originating in the ancient Near East through Central Asia into China. A mallet vase, of similar size and also decorated with dragon-fish handles, was excavated in 1983 from a Southern Song tomb at Songyang county and illustrated in Zhu Boqian, ed., Celadons from Longquan Kilns, Taipei, 1998, p. 149, no. 116. Closely related vases of this shape include one from the collection of Enid and Brodie Lodge, included in the Exhibition of Chinese Art, Palazzo Ducale, Venice, 1954, cat. no. 422, and sold in these rooms, 8th July 1975, lot 91; another in the Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya, was included in the exhibition Heavenly Blue. Southern Song Celadon, Nezu Art Museum, Tokyo, 2010, cat. no. 23; and another larger example sold in our New York rooms, 18th March 2008, lot 79.