A very rare large blue and white moonflask. Qianlong seal mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1736-1795). Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2013
The vase is well painted in fifteenth century style in rich underglaze blue, with simulated 'heaping and piling', on each side with a central roundel composed of a bat in flight amidst fruiting peach branches surrounded by peony meander bearing six large and six smaller blooms borne on leafy scrolling stems that continue onto the narrow sides below the dragon handles. The decoration is bordered above the foot by lappet and lingzhi scroll borders and at the shoulder by a ruyi-head border beneath further peony scroll encircling the neck. 19½ in. (49.5 cm.) high. Estimate $300,000 - $400,000
Property From a Private West Coast Collection
Notes: The shape of this vase is derived from early Ming prototypes which were usually decorated with dragons on the circular body. During the Qianlong period not only dragons were used to decorate these large moonflasks, but also flower scroll, like the present vase. For two other moonflasks of this latter type, of comparable size and with Qianlong seal marks, see the example illustrated inChinese Porcelain: The S.C. Ko Tianminlou Collection, Hong Kong, 1987, pl. 65; and the example sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 2 May 2005, lot 650. Compare, also, two related Qianlong-marked moonflasks of this same form, the first decorated with a full-faced dragon within a medallion, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 36 - Blue and White Porcelain with Underglaze Red (III), Hong Kong, 2000, p. 146, no. 132; and another decorated with confronted dragon and phoenix roundels sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 2 May 2005, lot 510. Vases of this type were recorded in the Qianlong Jishi Dang, 'A Record of Qianlong's Memorandum', where is it mentioned that in the third year of Qianlong (1738), a number of 'Imperial Xuande large blue and white moonflasks' were reproduced for palace decoration, ibid., 2000, p. 146
Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. 21 - 22 March 2013. New York, Rockefeller Plaza.