清雍正 窰變釉六弦長頸直口瓶 《雍正年製》款

the compressed globular body supported on a slightly flared foot, surmounted by tall cylindrical neck and upturned rim, encircled around the middle section by a double-horizontal rib and with five further ribs around the shoulder and neck, applied overall with a brilliant plum-coloured glaze accented with milky lavender-blue streaks drizzling down from the cream-rimmed mouth over the belly and foot, the underside dressed in a thin toffee-coloured glaze covering the incised four-character seal mark

香港蘇富比2000年5月2日，編號615

Apart from a minor 3cm touched up flake to the foot, and several original misfired areas to the unglazed area of the foot, the vase is in good condition.
"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."

The Chinese term for vases of this ribbed form is xianwenping, or ‘string pattern vase’.  A much larger Yongzheng vase of this type was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30^th May 2006, lot 1255. Compare also a Ru-type vase, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included in the Museum’s Special Exhibition of Qing Dynasty Monochromes, Taipei, 1981, cat. no. 79; and another, from the Huaihaitang collection, included in the exhibition Ethereal Elegance, Art Museum. The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2007, cat. no. 20. The exhibition catalogue also illustrates a painting by Giuseppe Castiglione, Auspicious Bouquet, dated 1723, depicting a bouquet of flowers in a Song guan prototype to vases of this type.

Further examples of the Song inspiration to the form of this vase, which in turn were inspired by ancient bronze hu vessels of the Han dynasty, from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, were included in the Museum’s Special Exhibition of Sung Dynasty Kuan Ware, Taipei, 1989, cat. nos. 21-23, 25-26.