元 影青貼花玉壺春瓶

of swollen pear-shaped form supported on a slightly splayed foot, the truncated neck decorated with four upright triangular beaded panels enclosing stylised scrolls, the central body carved with four quatrelobed recessed panels applied and reticulated with finely modelled flower sprays within beaded borders, above a row of large upright lotus lappets encircling the base, covered overall in a shadowy-blue glaze with traces of orange brown inside the panels

As visible in the catalogue photo, the trumpet mouth and top of the neck have broken off. There is retouching to the stems and leaves inside all four of the panels, old restoration which has now discoloured to yellow. Other general scratching and surface wear.
"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 vase is of a rare but well-known type, being a companion to one of Europe's most famous porcelains, the 'Gagnières-Fonthill Vase' in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin. The Dublin vase is the earliest piece recorded to have reached Europe, as in AD 1381 its then owner, Louis the Great of Hungary commissioned an elaborate set of silver-gilt mounts to turn it into a ewer. The bottle is illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the National Museum, National Museum of Ireland, Dublin, 1982, cover. Compare also two related pear-shaped vase, one of octagonal form, with neck cut down and mounted in ormolu, from the collection of the Victora and Albert Museum, included in the exhibition Chinese Art Under the Mongols: The Yüan Dynasty (1279-1368), The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1968, cat. no. 107; the other sold in our London rooms, 25th March 1947, from the collection of H.J. Brown.