AN UNUSUAL BLUE AND WHITE PEAR-SHAPED VASE MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG

of pear form with a slightly compressed belly, elegantly rising to a waisted neck and flared mouth, decorated around the belly with a continuous frieze of flower blossoms of various types including stylised chrysanthemum and lotus, all borne on a foliate scroll with further florets and buds, between pendant ruyi heads and lappets, the curved neck accentuated with upright plantain leaves below a key-fret band at the mouth, the cobalt of a vivid blue tone with simulated 'heaping and piling' effect, the countersunk base inscribed with a six-character reign kaishu mark in underglaze blue

Collection of Sir Harry and Lady Garner.
Sotheby's London, 8/9^th July 1974, lot 308.

 

Loan Exhibition of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, 14th to 19th Centuries, Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1954, cat. no. 312.

Sir Harry Garner, Oriental Blue and White, New York, 1973, pl. 100C (mark illustrated only).

There are some minor retouched frits (with slight discolouration from firing) to the mouth. Apart from a kiln grit of about 0.3 cm to the belly and some minor surface scratches, the overall condition is quite good.
"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."

A closely related vase was sold at Christie's London, 4th November 2008, lot 205; and a smaller example, but with slightly different proportions and a Qianlong seal mark on the base, was sold in these rooms, 2nd May 1995, lot 72, and again at Christie's Hong Kong, 29th May 2007, lot 1467. Compare also similarly decorated vases with globular bodies and long flaring necks, but of larger size and painted with crashing waves at the mouth, a key-fret band and floral scroll base on the neck, and a classic scroll on the foot, such as one from the Shanghai Museum, illustrated in Zhongguo taoci quanji, vol. 15, Shanghai, 2000, pl. 2; four vases with later metal mounts illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, vol. III, London, 1986, pl. 2564; and another example from the Toguri collection, sold in our London rooms, 9th June 2004, lot 5.

Qianlong reign marks of this type written in kaishu script are rare and follow in the style of Yongzheng six-character reign marks. See a pear shape vase inscribed with a similar Qianlong reign mark and decorated with similar 15th century style bands, sold in our London rooms, 26th June 1973, lot 299, and again in these rooms, 16th May 1989, lot 41, from the British Rail Pension Fund.