清乾隆 紅釉玉壺春瓶 《大清乾隆年製》款

the rounded sides rising from a spreading foot to a waisted neck and everted rim, richly applied on the exterior with a deep copper-red glaze, the base with a seal mark in underglaze blue

The vase is in good condition with the exception of a 5cm., hairline rim crack and an associated 2cm., wide band of restoration to the interior of the neck and light glaze scratches.
"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 notable for its vibrant copper-red glaze, the even tone which accentuates the graceful curves of its profile. Copper was notoriously difficult to fire, as the slightest irregularity in any stage of the production would result in undesirable colour and hence the rejection of the piece. With the technical advances made at the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen from the early Qing dynasty, by the Qianlong reign (r. 1736-1795) potters were able to accomplish such previously unattained command over the pigment to successfully create a number of monochrome vessels with a strong and even red tone, such as the present vase.

Copper-red vases of this type are held in important museums and private collections worldwide; see one in the Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, included in the Museum’s exhibition Chinese Arts of the Ming and Ch’ing Periods, 1963, cat. no. 440; one in the Nanjing Museum, Nanjing, illustrated in The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, pl. 346; another from the Songzhutang Collection, sold twice in our New York rooms, 17^th September 2003, lot 100 and 15^th September 2015, lot 85; and a fourth vase from the Duke of Fife and Bulgari Collection, sold in our New York rooms, 14^th September 2011, lot 213. Further Qianlong marked copper-red glazed vases of this type include one from the Gordon Collection, sold at Christie’s New York, 24^th March 2011, lot 1144; and another sold in these rooms, 17^th December 1996, lot 134, and again in our Hong Kong rooms, 3^rd October 2017, lot 3654.