Lot 3606
  • 3606

A FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE BLUE AND WHITE GARLIC-MOUTH VASE MARK AND PERIOD OF YONGZHENG |

Estimate
2,500,000 - 3,500,000 HKD
Log in to view results
bidding is closed

Description

  • 11 cm, 4 1/4  in.
delicately potted with a compressed globular body rising from a short straight foot to a tall tubular neck, all surmounted by a garlic-head mouth and thin lip, the rounded body decorated in shaded tones of cobalt with three evenly divided stylised lotus blooms, the lower neck collared with a subtly lobed band enclosing circular and 'horse-hoof' motifs, all below a frieze of pendent trefoils and a double-line encircling the bulbous mouth, the foot bordered with three lines, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark within a double circle

Exhibited

Treasures of Hong Kong: The 20th Anniversary of Hong Kong's Handover, Capital Museum, Beijing, 2017, cat. no. 132.

Condition

The vase is in very good condition. There is an approx. 0.3 cm original kiln flake to the foot.
"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

Sophisticated in its simplicity and understated elegance, this vase typifies Yongzheng imperial porcelain at its best. The graceful, unassuming shape is perfectly complemented by the minimalist, elegant design of stylised lotus flowers beautifully articulated in varying tones of delicate cobalt-blue, reminiscent of the heaping and piling of early Ming blue and white porcelain. Indeed, the elegant yet complex design of eight ruyi-shaped petals forming these stylised lotus flowers is almost star-shaped, reminiscent of the Islamic-style decoration on Yongle blue and white porcelains, such as on a moonflask from the Pilkington collection, sold in these rooms, 6th April 2016, lot 17. During the short reign of the Yongzheng Emperor, Qing imperial wares reached their apogee attaining an exquisite finesse, rarely found in those of later periods. The Emperor was fascinated with antiquity and is known to have sent numerous pieces of different ancient ceramic styles to the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen so that craftsmen could use them as examples in the creation of new pieces. The shape of this vase, known as suantouping with its bulbous head, appears to be based on archaic bronze prototypes, such as a pair attributed to the Western Han period, sold twice in our New York rooms, 12th/13th March 1975, lot 157, from the Estate of Harriet H. Jonas, and again, 22nd March 2011, lot 191, from the collection of J.T. Tai & Co.

Only one other closely related example appears to be published, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Gugong Bowuyuan cang Qingdai yuyao ciqi [Porcelains from the Qing dynasty imperial kilns in the Palace Museum collection], Beijing, 2005, vol. 1, part 1, pl. 21. See also a closely related example of similar size, but with the Yongzheng mark written in three columns, as opposed to two columns on the current example, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30th November 2011, lot 2938.