清 青花芭蕉竹葉紋玉壺春瓶 《大清乾隆年製》仿款

with a pear-shaped body, the exterior decorated with a continuous scene depicting a fenced garden arboured with tall bamboo and plantain trees amidst jagged rocks, all below bands of upright plantain leaves, the base with an apocryphal Qianlong mark

There is a triangular chip of 1 by 1.2 by 0.5 cm to the mouthrim with an associated (sprayed) 5 cm crack. There is a small firing kiln flake to the inner footring.
"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 Qianlong period vase of this type, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is illustrated in Porcelain of the National Palace Museum. Blue and White Wares of the Ch'ing Dynasty, vol. II, Hong Kong, 1968, pl. 12; another in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is published in Zhongguo taoci quanji [Complete series on Chinese ceramics], vol. 12, Shanghai, 2000, pl. 12; another was sold in our New York rooms, 20th March 1976, lot 174, and again at Christie's New York, 17th September 2008, lot 459; and a fourth example was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30th May 2006, lot 1410, and again in these rooms, 8th October 2010, lot 2773.

For the prototype of this vase, see two in the Palace Museum, Beijing, one attributed to the Yongle reign, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (I), Hong Kong, 2000, pl. 33; and the other attributed to the Xuande period, published in Ye Peilan, Appraising Ancient Chinese Ceramics, Taipei, 1994, pl. 83.