Lot 1065. A rare blue and white rectangular censer and cover, 17th century; 6 ¾ in. (17 cm.) high. Estimate USD 10,000 - USD 15,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2019.

The rectangular censer is decorated on each side with figures in a landscape setting and applied on the ends with a pair of upright loop handles decorated with various Daoist treasures. The cover is decorated on the sides with the Eight Trigrams interspersed with various Daoist treasures and is pierced with small holes on the ends, all below a pierced lion finial, Japanese wood box. 

Lot 1066. A small blue-glazed duck-form water dropper, 17th century; 2 3/8 in. (6 cm.) long. Estimate USD 6,000 - USD 8,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2019.

The water dropper is molded as a duck with a boy clambering on its back. It is covered with a glaze of rich blue tone except for the boy's white-glazed face and chest, Japanese double wood box. 

Provenance: The Baron Fujita Family Collection, by 1929.
Osaka Bijitsu Club auction held at the Baron Fujita family residence, 10 May 1929, lot 289.

Lot 1067. A Zhangzhou ware slip-decorated brown-glazed vase, Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century; 7,000 - USD 9,000. Estimate USD 7,000 - USD 9,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2019.

The pear-shaped vase is decorated in white slip on an amber-brown ground with two flower-pots of leafy, blossoming chrysanthemum growing amidst rockwork, Japanese wood box. 

Note: Two slip-decorated brown-ground 'garlic mouth’ vases with similarly-rendered plants in the British Museum, are illustrated by J. Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 34, pls. II:188 and II:189, where they are dated Ming dynasty, c. 1573-1620. The author notes that this combination of toffee-brown ground with contrasting white decoration was first introduced in the Wanli period, and that shards of this type dating to the late Ming era have been excavated at Zhushan in Jingdezhen.

Lot 860. A rare wucai lobed jar, Wanli mark and of the period (1573-1619); 4 1/4in (10.8cm) high. Estimate US$ 20,000 - 30,000 (€ 18,000 - 27,000). © Bonhams.

The straight sides divided into six lobes, each lobe painted with a vignette of a seated scholar flanked by two attendants, one holding a goose and the other variously holding a dish, covered box or vase, all with garden rocks in the foreground and pine needles and stylized clouds above, with a band of lotus blossoms and foliate scrolls encircling the mouth, the recessed foot centered with the six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double circle, wood cover and stand.

Note: A twelve lobed example painted with six panels is in the collection of the British museum and illustrated by Jessica Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 334, no. 11:153. That example, like the present lot has similar stylized clouds at the top of each panel and the mouth is encircled by a band of lotus blossoms and foliate scrolls. Jessica Harrison-Hall, ibid., notes that such vessels were probably modeled after contemporary Ming lacquer or silver boxes. 

An example similar to the one in the British Museum was sold at Christie's New York, 22 March 2018, lot 601. A five-lobed Wanli mark and period example decorated with dragons was sold at Christie's Paris, 19 December 2012, lot 13; and an octagonal example also with a Wanli mark and of the period, decorated with dragons was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29 November 2017, lot 3004.

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Paintings and Works of Art, New York, 9 Sep 2019

Lot 861. A Longquan celadon-glazed biscuit figure of Jigong, Ming dynasty (1368-1644); 6 3/8in (16.4cm) high. Estimate US$ 5,000 - 7,000 (€ 4,500 - 6,300). © Bonhams.

The mad monk modeled with an expressive face, wearing an abbot's hat and monk's robe, open to expose the right arm and chest, seated on a recumbent tiger, all covered in a sea-green glaze save the areas representing the figure's flesh, burnt a reddish-brown.

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Paintings and Works of Art, New York, 9 Sep 2019

Lot 701. A large purple-splashed 'Jun' bowl, Yuan-Ming dynasty (1279-1644). Diameter 7 1/4 in., 18 cm. Estimate 4,000 — 6,000 USD. © Sotheby's.

the steep, flaring sides rising to a slightly incurved rim, covered overall with a lustrous sky-blue glaze transmuting to pale lavender tones, the interior with a single crimson-tinged purple splash, the glaze thinning to a dark variegated brown at the rim and stopping neatly above the base revealing the buff-orange body.

Provenance: The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Samuel M. Nickerson (1830-1914) Fund in 1923 (acc. no. 1923.1112).

Lot 1015. A rare Jun twin-handled jar, Yuan-Ming dynasty, 14th-15th century; 6 5/8 in. (17 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 60,000 - USD 80,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2019.

The jar is potted with a globular body raised on a slightly splayed foot, and has two strap handles flanking the slightly flared cylindrical neck. The exterior is covered with a thick purplish-red glaze with an area of crackled sky blue color on one side and continues over the lipped rim to cover the inside of the neck, the remainder of the interior unglazed. 

Provenance: Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Clark Collection, United Kingdom, no. AIC 716.
Sotheby's London, 25 March 1975, lot 95.
Sotheby's London, 11 December 1979, lot 227.
Bonhams London, 7 November 2013, lot 11.

Literature: The Oriental Ceramic Society Exhibition of Sung Dynasty Wares, Chun and Brown Glazes, London, 1952, cat. no. 151.

Exhibited: London, Exhibition of Chinese Art for Chinese Medical Relief, 1938.
London, The Oriental Ceramic Society Exhibition of Sung Dynasty Wares: Chun and Brown Glazes, 1st-3rd May 1952.

Note: In the Song period, Jun wares from Yuxian, Henan province with areas of contrasting copper-red were widely admired. Much emphasis was unsurprisingly placed on the quality of the thick, opalescent glaze. The most important characteristic of Jun glaze is the phenomenon known as 'liquid phase separation' which is the formulation of tiny globules of lime-rich glass within the silica-rich glaze matrix, effecting the passage of light in such a way as to produce an attractive blue effect. Jun ware production understandably required great skill and control of the glaze and the firing conditions. Such delicate balances perhaps encouraged a degree of experimentation as the effects of minute changes were observed and understood, leading to the development of new styles of Jun decoration. 

This jar is very unusual for its almost entirely red surface. See a jar of similar shape dated to the Yuan dynasty illustrated in A Panorama of Ceramics in the Collection of the National Palace Museum: Chün Ware, Taipei, 1999, no. 104. Under the Qianlong reign, the famous Imperial ceramics supervisor, Tang Ying (1682-1756), sent a craftman to Yuxian to research into the glaze recipe of the Jun ware, and Jun ceramics with the same shape and glaze were created. See a Jun-type jar of related shape from the Qianlong period in the Zande Lou collection illustrated in Qing Imperial Monochromes: The Zande Lou Collection, Shanghai Museum, Beijing Museum, and Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005, pp. 118, no. 48.

Lot 1044. A Longquan celadon tripod censer, Yuan-Ming dynasty (1279-1644); 5 in. (12.8 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 5,000 - USD 7,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2019.

 The deep sides are raised on three cabriole legs and carved in relief with the Eight Trigrams, bagua, between raised bands. The exterior is covered with a glaze of sea-green color that continues over the rim into the partially glazed interior, and over the lower edge onto the base around an unglazed circle in the center,  Japanese wood box.

Property from the Linyushanren Collection.

Lot 1046. An iron-spot-decorated Longquan celadon pear-shaped vase, Yuan-Early Ming dynasty, 14th-15th century; 9 in. (23 cm.) high. Estimate USD 20,000 - USD 30,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2019.

The pear-shaped body is carved with lotus scroll, above a band of upright petals. The neck is decorated with upright plantain leaves and is flanked by a pair of fish-form handles suspending fixed rings. It is covered overall with a rich sea-green glaze with scattered iron-brown splashes,  Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Private collection, Japan, acquired in the late 19th-early 20th century, by repute.

Lot 1064. An unusual Longquan celadon bell, Yuan-Ming dynasty or later; 8 ¾ in. ( 23 cm.) high. Estimate USD 12,000 - USD 18,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2019.

The bell is carved with a band of the Eight Trigrams between borders of applied florets, and the rim and the shoulder are carved with wave bands, all below a handle formed by two mythical beasts, and all covered with a glaze of soft sea-green color,  softwood stand, mallet.

Provenance: Private collection, Kansai, prior to the Meiji period (1868-1912).

Lot 1049. A carved Longquan celadon jar, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368); 12 in. (35 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 20,000 - USD 30,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2019.

The heavily potted jar is carved with four panels of flowers, including peony, chrysanthemum, camellia and foliate scroll, all above a band of narrow petals and below a saw-tooth band on the neck, and is covered overall with a glaze of pale sea-green tone that also covers the interior and interior of the foot, Japanese wood box.

Lot 1051. A rare Longquan celadon bottle vase, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368); 10 ½ in. (27 cm.) high. Estimate USD 40,000 - USD 60,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2019.

The globular body is surmounted by a cylindrical neck flanked by a pair of fish-dragon handles between two single bow-string bands, all below a lipped rim. It is covered overall in a glaze of soft sea-green color, cloth pouch, Japanese wood box.

Note: Longquan vases with the type of handles seen on the current vessel are rare. The handles are in the shape of yulong (dragon-fish) with fish-like bodies and dragon-like heads. Dragon-fish are mentioned in Chinese literature as early as the Bronze Age, and appear in legends related in the Shanhaijing (Classic of Mountains and Seas). They were included in painted and incised decoration on ceramics of the Tang dynasty, from kilns such as Changsha and Yue, but do not seem to occur in three-dimensional ceramic form until the Song and Liao dynasties. By the Song dynasty, handles such as these depicted a carp in the process of turning into a dragon. This evokes a legend, which dates from at least as early as the Eastern Han dynasty (AD 8 - 220), that tells of the carp swimming up river to the Dragon Gate. If it is successful in leaping over the gate it turns into a dragon. This legend soon came to represent the success of the Chinese scholars, who studied hard to pass the civil service examinations, and if they achieved the highest grade would attain an official post.

Lot 1052. A Longquan celadon tripod censer, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368); 6 ½ in. (17 cm.) high. Estimate USD 6,000 - USD 8,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2019.

The globular body supported on three cabriole legs rises to a straight neck applied with a pair of upright loop handles. The censer is covered with a glaze of sea-green tone, metal cover, Japanese wood box.

Lot 778. A celadon-glazed 'Longquan''tobi seiji' stemcup, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368). Height 3 1/4  in., 8.2 cm. Estimate 5,000 — 7,000 USD. © Sotheby's.

the waisted stem encircled by two raised fillets and supporting a bowl with rounded sides flaring at the rim, covered overall in a lustrous sage-green glaze whimsically splashed with dabs of iron-brown transmuting to iridescent tones from firing, wood stand (2).

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, New York, 11 Sep 2019

Lot 780. A large celadon-glazed 'Longquan'‘Twin fish’ charger , Yuan dynasty (1279-1368). Diameter 17 in., 43.2 cm. Estimate 15,000 — 25,000 USD. © Sotheby's.

the subtly rounded sides rising from a short tapered foot to an everted rim, the interior with two sprig-molded fish swimming with the tails sweeping upward, their scales and fins crisply defined in high relief, the cavetto incised with a continuous foliate scroll, the exterior carved with upright petals, covered overall in a seafoam-green glaze.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, New York, 11 Sep 2019

Lot 882. A copper red-decorated yuhuchunping, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368); Height 10 3/8  in., 26.5 cm. Estimate 10,000 — 15,000 USD. © Sotheby's.

the pear-shaped body resting on a slightly splayed foot, sweeping to a slender waisted neck and flared rim, freely painted with two floral sprays between triple line borders, the neck with upright leaf-form lappets enclosing scrolls, the exterior, mouth and recessed base glazed white, the footring unglazed revealing the pinkish buff body.

Provenance: Christie's London, 12th-13th May 1986, lot 164.

Note: Compare a similar vase included in the exhibition In Pursuit of the Dragon: Traditions and Transitions in Ming Ceramics, Seattle Art Museum, 1988, cat. no. 7, attributed to the mid-14th century. See two others of similar design: the first sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 7th May 2002, lot 566, the second sold at Christie's New York, 18th September 2014, lot 912. For an example painted with a lotus scroll, attributed to the first half of the 14th century, see one illustrated in Suzanne G. Valenstein, A Handbook of Chinese Ceramics, New York, 1989, pl. 131. 

A copper-red-decorated yuhuchunping, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368); 9½ in. (24 cm.) high. Estimate USD 12,000 - USD 18,000. Price realised USD 15,000 at Christie's New York, 18th September 2014, lot 912. © Christie's Images Ltd 2014 

Cf. my post: A copper-red-decorated yuhuchunping, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368)

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, New York, 11 Sep 2019

Lot 756. A large sgraffiato brown-glazed 'Cizhou' jar, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368). Height 19 1/2 in., 49.5 cm. Estimate 15,000 — 20,000 USD. © Sotheby's.

the sturdily potted body of ovoid form, the rounded shoulders tapering to a wide rolled-lipped rim, covered overall with a rich burnt-umber brown glaze deftly carved through to the buff ground with two bands of luxuriantly scrolling leafy foliage reserved between line borders, the neck and base unglazed.

Lot 508. A rare finely painted and incised 'Cizhou''Birds' jar, Jin-Yuan dynasty (1115-1368). Height 19 1/2 in., 49.5 cm. Estimate 40,000 — 60,000 USD. © Sotheby's.

sturdily potted with a robust ovoid body tapering sharply from the wide rounded shoulders to the countersunk base, freely painted and incised in dark brown over the white slip on either side with a songbird perched on leafing and flowering branches, the tails and flowers further detailed with an iron wash, framed within shaped cartouches and divided by radiating petals, all between double line borders, the glaze stopping neatly at the foot ring to reveal the grayish body, the rim and interior applied with a dark-brown glaze thinning to a mahogany tone at the rim, Japanese wood box (3).

Provenance: Hirano Koto-ken, Tokyo, 1974.

Note: This jar is a remarkable example of a rare group of Cizhou wares with motifs both painted and incised through layers of black and white slip. Wares of this type are discussed by Yutaka Mino in the catalogue to the exhibition Freedom of Clay and Brush through Seven Centuries in Northern China: Tz’u-chou Type Wares, 960-1600 A.D., Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, 1980, p. 198, where he suggests that they originally evolved from sgraffiato wares. He further notes that while painted and incised wares may have originated in the Northern Song period, they became popular only in the Jin, concurrently with the decline of the sgraffiato technique. 

Jars painted with this motif are highly unusual and no other closely related example appears to have been published. A larger jar painted and incised with geese and with an additional band of scattered petals, in the Shanghai Museum, is illustrated in Shanghai Hakubutsukan [Shanghai Museum], Tokyo, 1976, pl. 101; one from the collection of Frederick Knight was sold twice in our London rooms, 15th April 1980, lot 151, and 19th June 1984, lot 181; and another unearthed at the Pengcheng kilns, Henan province, and now in the Handan Museum, is illustrated in Cizhou yao gu ci [Ancient Ceramics of Cizhou], Xi’an, 2004, pl. 124. See also a larger jar painted and incised with phoenix from the Avery Brundage Collection in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, included in the exhibition Freedom of Clay and Brush through Seven Centuries in Northern China, op. cit., cat. no. 91, depicted together with further phoenix jars, figs 251-254 and 257: the first recovered from a Yuan storage cellar in Liangxiang near Beijing, the second held in a collection in Japan, the third in the Musée Cernuschi, Paris, the fourth excavated from Chuzhou county in Hebei province, and the fifth in a private Japanese collection.

Lot 509. A rare inscribed 'Cizhou' black-glazed sgraffiato meiping, Jin-Yuan dynasty (1115-1368). Height 10 1/2  in., 26.5 cm. Estimate 12,000 — 15,000 USD. © Sotheby's.

the robustly potted ovoid body with gently rounded sides rising to a short waisted ringed neck and cupped mouth, applied overall with a glossy dark-brown glaze, carved through to leave a broad register of lotus and aquatic plants set against a hatched wave ground, segmented by two narrow vertical cartouches, each enclosing five characters together reading jiahe sheng guizi menshan chu gaoren (harmonious household produces abundant offspring, virtuous family educates illustrious figures), all enclosed within double-line borders, the thick glaze pooling at the shoulder and stopping unevenly above the knife-pared foot revealing the buff-colored body, Japanese wood box (??).

Exhibited: Chūgoku Kotōji Tō-Sō Meitoten [Chinese Ceramics Tang-Song Masterworks exhibition], The Japan Ceramic Society, Shirakiya, Tokyo, 1964, cat. no. 169.

Note: This jar is striking for its carefully and confidently incised lotus design over a ground of parallel diagonal lines. Fragments of vessels carved with such large-scale designs against finely incised grounds were discovered, for example, at the Wayaogou kiln site in Shanxi province, and included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition Kiln Sites of Ancient China. Recent Finds of Pottery and Porcelain, British Museum, London, 1980, cat. nos 478 and 480, where the authors mention, p. 104, that among the products of these kilns, incised wares were finer and more carefully executed than those with cut-out designs. 

A jar boldly carved with lotus against a ground of incised waves was sold in these rooms, 21st September 2006, lot 98; a somewhat coarser example with stylized flowers, in the Baur Foundation, Geneva, is illustrated in Margaret Medley, Yüan Porcelain and Stoneware, London, 1974, pl. 108b; another is published in Mayuyama, Seventy Years, Tokyo, 1976, vol. 1, pl. 601; and a larger jar, with a further classic scroll band on the shoulders, was sold in our London rooms, 6th April 1976, lot 78.

Lot 510. A rare 'Cizhou' brown-glazed sgraffiato meiping, Jin dynasty (1115-1234). Height 9 3/4  in., 24.9 cm. Estimate 12,000 — 15,000 USD. © Sotheby's.

the steeply rounded sides swelling to a shouldered baluster body surmounted by a short waisted neck and tall angled tapering rim, applied overall with a thick brownish-black glaze, carved through to the buff body leaving a broad foliate scroll at the shoulder above a band of upright lappets to the body, each framed within concentric line borders, the countersunk base unglazed, Japanese wood box (3).

Provenance: Collection of Edward T. Chow (1910-1980).
Sotheby’s London, 16th December 1980, lot 235.
Hirano Koto-ken, Tokyo, 1981.