明宣德 青花纏枝花卉紋小罐 《大明宣德年製》款

the tapered ovoid body rising at an angle from a recessed splayed foot to a short narrow rim, freely painted in deep cobalt tones accented with 'heaping and piling' with a composite floral scroll of the four seasons, peony, lotus, double-chrysanthemum and camellia, borne on a continuous stem with attendant buds and corresponding leaves, between borders of ruyi trefoils encircling the shoulder and the base, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark between double circles

香港蘇富比2001年5月1日，編號508

There is a 8 mm. chip to the footrim with an associated 5mm. hairline crack extending from it. There is a 2.3 cm hairline crack to the foot, rising on approx 2.3 cm up the body and 1.5 cm onto the base. There are three further glaze crack around the base, each of approx. 2 cm., one extending partially onto the footring.There is another 0.4 cmm hairline hairline crack to the foot. There are further original crackles in the glaze on the base encircling the mark. There is an horizontal crackle in the glaze around the shoulder, with several stained body lines showing through inside the vase. There is a 2 x 1.2 cm flake reglued on the mouthrim with further small hairline cracks on the interior of the mouthrim, one extending on approx 1.7 cm on the exterior of the rim.
"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."

This charming piece is unusual for both its form and details of the painting, although a companion piece was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 31^st March 1992, lot 534. While a number of jars decorated with flowers are known, very few have this angled foot and the combination of a mixed flower scroll, including a double chrysanthemum and broadleaf arrowhead among the lotus, between bands of ruyi-heads with pale central spines. Compare a small Xuande jar in the Palace Museum, Beijing, of related form but lacking the splayed foot, similarly painted with a pomegranate flower scroll between trefoil borders, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures in the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red, Shanghai, 2000, vol. 1, pl. 106.