Lot 3501. A rare soft-paste white-glazed incised 'chrysanthemum' censer, Qianlong incised six-character seal mark and of the period (1736-1795); 5 in. (12.5 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 300,000 - HKD 400,000. Price Realized HKD 1,600,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The vessel is after a bronze prototype with a cylindrical cross-section, supported on three squat cabriole legs. Incised on the interior with a centralised chrysanthemum motif, and the exterior and legs with scrolling chrysanthemum, box.

Provenance: Christie's New York, 16 September 1998, lot 91.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art (Including The Su Zhu An Collection of Inkstones), Hong Kong, 27 November 2013

Lot 3500. A white-glazed chrysanthemum-shaped box and cover, Qing dynasty, early 18th century; 6 5/16 in. (16 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 80,000 - HKD 120,000. Price Realized HKD 137,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013 

The slightly domed cover is finely moulded with four concentric rings of chrysanthemum petals radiating from a stylised flowerhead in the centre, and the fluted box is moulded with a single band of petals. It is covered with a white glaze of faint bluish tinge, and the base with a transparent glaze covering an apocryphal Xuande six-character mark, Japanese wood box. 

Provenance: Collection of Reijuin, Chief Abbot of the Daitsuji Temple in Nagahama, Japan
Sold at a dealer's auction in Japan in 1924, no. 90.

Note: Several boxes of the same design and size have been recorded. One was included in Exhibition of Far Eastern Ceramics from the Ataka Collection, Kyoto National Museum, 1978, no. 80. The second box was in the J.M. Hu Collection, sold at Sotheby's New York, 4 June 1985, lot 4. Another very similar box, in the Avery Brundage Collection, is illustrated by Rene-Yvon Lefebvre d'Argence in Chinese Ceramics in the Avery Brundage Collection, 1967, pl. LV1, B.

All the above examples were catalogued as dating to the Xuande period but in the absence of similar excavated examples, it is difficult to date this group to the Xuande period with any degree of certainty.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art (Including The Su Zhu An Collection of Inkstones), Hong Kong, 27 November 2013

Lot 3025. A pair of celadon-glazed dishes, Marks and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); 13.2 cm., 5 1/4 in. Estimate 600,000 — 800,000 HKD. Lot Sold 1,040,000. Photo Sotheby's

each with gently rounded sides rising from a short tapering foot to an everted rim, covered overall in a soft muted-green glaze, the white-glazed base inscribed with a six-character reign mark within a double-square.

Provenance: Collection formed in the 1950s by Alexander Lambert Hood, 7th Viscount Hood, with the guidance of John Sparks Ltd.
Sotheby's London, 4th November 2009, lot 107.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3026. An ovoid celadon-glazed bottle vase, Qing dynasty, early 18th century; 27.3 cm., 10 3/4 in. Estimate 300,000 — 400,000 HKD. Lot Sold 350,000. Photo Sotheby's

the ovoid body elegantly rising to a slender waisted neck and flaring mouth, the exterior covered in a soft bubble-suffused celadon glaze, the interior glazed white, the recessed base applied with a slightly lighter celadon glaze.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3028. A fine pair of small white-glazed wine cups, marks and period of Kangxi (1662-1722); 3.6 cm., 1 3/8 in. Estimate 400,000 — 600,000 HKD. Lot Sold 920,000. Photo Sotheby's

finely potted with steep gently curved sides rising from a short tapering foot to a very slightly everted rim, applied with a bright translucent-white glaze fitted with a gold ring encircling the foot and rim, inscribed on the base with a six-character mark within a double-circle in underglaze blue.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3029. A fine and unusual clair-de-lune glazed vase with incised dragons and bats, mark and period of Kangxi (1662-1722); 32.5 cm., 12 7/8 in. Estimate 600,000 — 800,000 HKD. Lot Sold 2,540,000. Photo Sotheby's

deftly potted with curved sides rising to an angular shoulder, surmounted by a waisted neck and everted rim, the body incised with bats in flight alternating with stylised dragon roundels, all below a similarly incised frieze of bats flying amidst scrolling clouds at the shoulder, applied overall with a lustrous clair-de-lune glaze extending to the interior and base, draining to white at the mouthrim, the recessed base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within a double-circle.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3030. A fine and rare large Guan-type handled vase, fanghu, seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 42.2 cm., 16 5/8 in. Estimate 1,200,000 — 1,800,000 HKD. Lot Sold 2,660,000. Photo Sotheby's

of rectangular section, the pear-shaped body moulded with a raised peach-shaped panel on the front and back, rising to a slightly waisted neck and a lobed mouth, flanked by a pair of facetted lug handles, covered overall with a greyish-blue glaze, supported on a straight foot, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark.

Provenance: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 28th April 1993, lot 79.

Note: The present vase is impressive for its large size and only one other example of such magnificent proportions are known; a vessel sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27th May 2008, lot 1805. A number of smaller vases of this form and glazed to resemble Song wares, with Qianlong reign marks and of the period, are known; see two in the Idemitsu Collection, one with a Guan-type glaze and the other with a Ge-type glaze, illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1987, pls 959 and 960 respectively; and a Guan-type glazed example sold in our New York rooms, 24th June 1982, lot 345.

In its glazing and form, this vase was made to imitate 'Guan' ware, one of the most celebrated official wares of the Song Dynasty and made for the court in the capital, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province. The shape of this vase is based on ritual bronze prototypes that were just being discovered and excavated during the Song dynasty. The Northern Song emperor Huizong (r. 1101-25) was a keen collector of both bronze and jade and commissioned the production of ceramic vessels after bronze pieces in his collection. Interest in archaism remained a strong feature of Chinese connoisseurship and reached its peak during the Qing dynasty. The Qianlong emperor amassed a large collection of ancient art objects and had objects imitating his favourite pieces made.

For the Song inspiration of this vase, compare a small 'Guan' example in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, published in The Illustrated Catalogue of Sung Dynasty Porcelain in the National Palace Museum. Southern Sung Kuan Ware, Tokyo, 1974, pl. 13.  

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3033. A fine and rare massive carved celadon-glazed 'fruit' bowl, seal mark and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); 34.1cm., 13 1/2 in. Estimate 1,800,000 — 2,500,000 HKD. Lot Sold 3,140,000. Photo Sotheby's

well potted with deep rounded sides, the exterior decorated in low relief with detached fruiting and flowering sprays of peaches, pomegranates and persimmons intertwined with hibiscus, peony and lotus, interspersed with scattered clouds and small floral sprays, covered overall with a pale celadon glaze, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark.

Provenance: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 30th April 1991, lot 86.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 10th April 2006, lot 1608.

Note: A very similar celadon-glazed bowl of Yongzheng mark and period, from the Collection of the British Rail Pension Fund, exhibited on loan at the Dallas Museum of Art 1985-1988, was sold in these rooms, 24th May, 1978, lot 234 and again, 16th May, 1989, lot 57. A Yongzheng bowl carved with the same design under a pale lavender-blue glaze was sold in these rooms, 16th May, 1977, lot 145.

Compare also the bowl from the T.Y. Chao Collection exhibited at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, 1978, Catalogue no. 59, and sold in these rooms 18th November, 1986, lot 86, where the same carving has been left in white on a ground of pale powdered underglaze-blue and the entire bowl then glazed in celadon, giving contrasting pale green and blue colours on the exterior.  

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3035. A finely incised-decorated 'anhua' stembowl, mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 14.5 cm., 5 3/4 in. Estimate 250,000 — 350,000 HKD. Lot Sold 860,000. Photo Sotheby's

with well-potted rounded sides everted at the rim, springing from a slightly flared tall pedestal foot, decorated on the interior in anhua technique with a six-character reign mark in the centre, enclosed by a continuous frieze of lotus scrolls, the exterior and pedestal foot with matching lotus designs divided by a ring of upright petal lappets, covered overall with an even white glaze of warm tone.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3038. A fine and rare Guan-type archaistic handled vase, seal mark and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); 14.5 cm., 5 3/4 in. Estimate 1,300,000 — 1,800,000 HKD. Lot Sold 4,220,000. Photo Sotheby's

of hu form supported on a tall foot, the pear-shaped  body rising to a raised rim above the broad columnar neck flanked by a pair of angular ear-shaped handles moulded with long ruyi-head lobes, covered overall in a thickly applied glaze suffused with a fine network of charcoal-grey crackling, the unglazed footrim applied with a dark brown slip, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark in underglaze blue.

Provenance: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 31st October 2004, lot 217.

Note: Yongzheng vases of this form are rare; see an example of more globular form and rounded stepped foot published in Kangxi. Yongzheng. Qianlong. Qing Porcelain from the Palace Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1989, p. 245, pl. 74. For closely related vases with a Qianlong reign mark and of the period, compare two sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29th April 2002, lot 664, and a larger example, 30th May 2006; another covered in a Ru-type glaze sold in these rooms, 20th November, 1985, lot 213; and a teadust-glazed vase in the Tokyo National Museum, published in oriental ceramics. The World's Great Collections, vol. 1, Tokyo, 1982, pl. 293.

The form and glaze of the current vase reflects archaistic interest, as the shape derive from the tall pear-shaped bronze hu of the Shang dynasty (16th century-c.1050BC), while the glaze is in imitation of the celebrated 'Guan' official ware of the Song period (960-1279). In China copying was always considered a virtue as it challenged craftsmen to equal masters of the past.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3021. A peachbloom washer, Mark and period of Kangxi (1622-1722); 11.5cm., 4 1/4 in. Estimate 80,000 — 120,000 HKD. Lot Sold 400,000 HKD. Photo Sotheby's

of compressed circular form, supported on a shallow tapering foot, the incurved, rounded sides covered with a dusty purplish-pink glaze with areas of mushroom-green tones, leaving the interior and base glazed white, inscribed on the base with the six-character mark in underglaze-blue.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3022. A sacrificial red-glazed stembowl, Seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 15.2 cm., 6 in. Estimate 180,000 — 220,000 HKD. Lot Sold 300,000 HKD. Photo Sotheby's

the rounded sides supported on a tall flared foot, elegantly rising to a slightly everted rim, the interior and exterior covered with a rich red glaze of a crushed-raspberry tone, draining to white at the rim, pooling to a deeper tone around the top of the foot, the interior of the foot glazed white and inscribed with a six-character horizontal reign mark in underglaze blue.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3514. A red-glazed stem bowl, Qianlong six-character seal mark in a line and of the period (1736-1795); 6 in. (15.2 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 200,000 - HKD 300,000. Price Realized HKD 225,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013 

The deep bowl is well-potted with a slightly flaring rim, supported on a tall spreading foot, and covered overall with an even red glaze of dark ruby tone save for the mouth rim and the interior of the foot. 

Property from the Collection of Mr. & Mrs. James E. Breece III.

Provenance: Sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 April 2007, lot 730.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art (Including The Su Zhu An Collection of Inkstones), Hong Kong, 27 November 2013

Lot 3506. A fine copper-red glazed compressed bottle vase, Qianlong six-character seal mark and of the period (1736-1795); 8 7/8 in. (22.7 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 1,500,000 - HKD 2,000,000. Price Realized HKD 2,200,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013 

The vase is finely potted with a compressed globular body supported on a splayed foot, rising to a long cylindrical neck, covered overall on the exterior with an even, slightly mottled copper red glaze. The interior and base are covered with a transparent glaze, box. 

Note: Compare with two similar vases of Qianlong marks and period, one sold at Christie's New York, 22 March 2007, lot 412, the other sold at Christie's New York, 23 March 1995, lot 386.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art (Including The Su Zhu An Collection of Inkstones), Hong Kong, 27 November 2013

Lot 3039. A fine pair of copper-red glazed saucer dishes, seal marks and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 15.9 cm., 6 1/2 in. Estimate 150,000 — 200,000 HKD. Lot Sold 187,500 HKD. Photo Sotheby's

each well potted with rounded sides, applied overall with a rich strawberry-red glaze fired to an even glossy finish stopping neatly below the mouthrim and just above the footrim, leaving the base glazed white and inscribed with a six-character mark in underglaze blue.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3023. A flambé-glazed meiping vase, Qing dynasty, 18th century; 35 cm., 13 3/4 in. Estimate 400,000 — 600,000 HKD. Lot Sold 475,000 HKD. Photo Sotheby's

the curved sides with a rounded shoulder, surmounted by a short waisted neck with a slightly everted lip, the exterior covered with a rich glaze of streaked crushed-raspberry and lavender tones extending to the interior of the mouth, draining to greyish beige at the rim, all suffused with a matrix of crackles, the base left unglazed.

Provenance: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 29th October 1991, lot 86.

Note: A closely related vase is illustrated in Selected Ceramics from the Collection of Mr & Mrs J.M. Hu, Shanghai, 1989, pl. 71; a slightly smaller example was sold in our London rooms, 6th April 1976, lot 198; and a third vase was sold at Christie's New York, 16th September 1999, lot 372. Compare also a flambé-glazed meiping of this form and size, but of a lighter purple hue and with a Qianlong reign mark and of the period, included in the exhibition Ethereal Elegance. Porcelain Vases of the Imperial Qing. The Huaihaitang Collection, Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2007, cat. no. 69.

Vessels covered in the striking flambé glaze reflect the Yongzheng and Qianlong emperor's fondness for Song dynasty 'Jun' wares. It was Yongzheng who first commissioned the development of new glazes in imitation of 'Jun' vessels and a total of nine different types of revival 'Jun' glazes were created, which can be found recorded in the 1732 edition of the Jiangxi tongzhi (General Description of the Jiangxi Province). For the list and description of the nine glazes see S.W. Bushell, Oriental Ceramic Art, London, 1981, pp 194-96. The flambé glaze was perfected under Qianlong's reign when a large number of wares covered in this highly attractive glaze were produced. 

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3023. A fine and large flambé-glazed bottle vase, seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 46 cm., 18 1/8 in. Estimate 2,000,000 — 3,000,000 HKD. Lot Sold 3,620,000 HKD. Photo Sotheby's

of finely potted tall pear shape, supported on a slightly splayed foot, gently rising to a slender neck, covered with a rich lilac-purple glaze feathered with milky blue, draining from the rim leaving a sesame coloured band, suffused overall with a network of fine glaze crackles, the base covered with a café-au-lait glaze and incised with a six-character reign mark.

Provenance: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 27th April 1993, lot 84.

Note: A slightly larger vase of closely related form with a Qianlong seal mark and of the period, but with more copper-red hues, in the Nanjing Museum, was included in the exhibition Qing Imperial Porcelain of the Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong Reigns, Art Gallery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1995, cat. no. 64; another is illustrated in Michel Beurdeley and Guy Raindre, Qing Porcelain. Famille; and a third example from the collection of Thomas Barlow Walker and later the British Rail Pension Fund was sold twice in our rooms, in New York, 26th September 1972, lot 833, and again, 16th May 1989, lot 63. A larger Qianlong vase of this shape and glaze is published in Mayuyama: Seventy Years, vol. 1, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 1080.

By the Qing dynasty 'Jun' wares were regarded as objects of admiration at court as well as amongst literati connoisseurs and wealthy merchant collectors. The Yongzheng and Qianlong emperors sought to reproduce the beautiful glaze effects and graceful forms of 'Jun' wares by commissioning copies from the imperial workshops at Jingdezhen. For the inspiration of this vase compare a 'Jun' vase in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Chun Ware of the Sung Dynasty, Hong Kong, 1961, pl. 3; and another in the Freer Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., published in Oriental Ceramics. The World's Great Collections, vol. 9, Tokyo, 1981, col. pl. 12.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3037. A flambé-glazed Hu-shaped vase, Seal mark and period of Daoguang (1821-1850); 29.5 cm., 11 5/8 in. Estimate 80,000 — 100,000 HKD. Lot Sold 437,500 HKD. Photo Sotheby's

well potted after the archaistic bronze hu form, rising from a tall straight rectangular foot to a gently waisted and slightly flaring neck flanked by a pair of rectangular handles, covered overall with a lustrous purplish-red glaze, highlighted with milky cascades of sky-blue, the interior draining away to reveal a pale-blue glaze with white striations, the brown-glazed base incised with a six-character seal mark.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3032. A fine tea-dust glazed bottle vase, seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 19.5 cm., 7 7/8 in. Estimate 600,000 — 800,000 HKD. Lot Sold 2,180,000 HKD. Photo Sotheby's

the elegantly potted globular body rising from a flaring foot to a tall cylindrical neck with cup-shaped mouth, covered with a densely flecked olive-green glaze paling at the rim and around the shoulder, an incised seal mark to the recessed base.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011

Lot 3036. A tea-dust glazed bottle vase, incised seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 33 cm., 13 in. Estimate 150,000 — 200,000 HKD. Lot Sold 680,000 HKD. Photo Sotheby's

of elegant pear shape, with a swelling ovoid body rising from a short splayed foot to a slender neck, covered overall in a yellow-speckled olive-green glaze, the base incised with a six-character seal mark, the foot and mark dressed in a brown slip.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 april 2011