A RARE LONGQUAN CELADON DOUBLE-GOURD VASE YUAN / MING DYNASTY, 14TH CENTURY

of slender double-gourd form, the generously rounded spherical lower body tapering at the svelte waist before rising to a tall upper bulb surmounted by a lipped rim, evenly covered overall in a glossy celadon-green glaze, paling slightly at the rim and pooling thickly at the neatly cut footrim, the unglazed foot dressed in brown and burnt slightly russet in the firing, encircling the recessed base

Collection of the Asada Family, Japan, until 1934.
Tokyo Bijutsu Club, Tokyo, 1934, lot 168.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 2nd May 2005, lot 676.

Asada ke zōhin tenkan nyūsatsu [Exhibition for auction of objects collected by the Asada Family], Tokyo, 1934, no. 168.
Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, London, 1994-2010, vol. 4, no. 1607.

Updated: There is a 2.5 cm section on the footrim that is painted covering a possible hairline or a chip and there is a 2 cm horizontal hairline crack on the mouth of the vase and a very subtle lean, the overall condition is very good. The glaze is very even throughout with a few random glaze crackles and one star shaped one on one side. The actual colour of the vase is slightly deeper than in 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."

Gourd-shaped vases are surprisingly rare among the rich production of the many celadon kilns located in and around Longquan county in Zhejiang province. A slightly smaller vase of this form attributed to the Yuan dynasty, the base equally having a recessed centre, was excavated from a hoard discovered during building works at Baihuo commune, Qingtian county, Zhejiang province, and is now with the Qingtian County Cultural Relics Management Committee. Undoubtedly due to its beauty as well as its rarity, this vase has been frequently published, for example, in Zhu Boqian, Longquan yao qingci/Celadons from Longquan Kilns, Taibei, 1998, pl. 154 (fig. 0); in Zhongguo Longquan qingci/Longquan Celadon of China, Hangzhou, 1998, pl. 124 and on the title page; and in Zhongguo taoci quanji [Complete series on Chinese ceramics], Shanghai, 1999-2000, vol. 10, pl. 35. Another vase of this form is illustrated in Sōgyō Shichijūnen Kinen Ryūsen Shūhō/Mayuyama, Seventy Years, Tokyo, 1976, vol. 1, pl. 484.