Lot 1525. An extremely rare early Ming blue and white ewer, Yongle period (1403-1425); 11¼ in. (28.5 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 2,500,000 - HKD 3,000,000. Price Realized HKD 4,807,500 (USD 618,740). © Christie's Images Ltd 2008

The pear-shaped body potted with an elegant spout, joined to the neck with a cloud-shaped strut opposite a ridged loop handle above three moulded bosses simulating studs holding the handle in place, finely painted in vibrant cobalt tones with a spray of scrolling lotus circling the base, growing further upward sprays in and around a ruyi-head frame detailed with classic-scroll design, below a band of pendent trefoil frieze, the sloping neck with bands of pomegranate scroll and gardenia sprays below the everted mouth rim, the spout with upward sprays of lotus above stylised scrolls and the handle decorated with further scrolling flowers, the short foot ring with rope-like border, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Mayuyama.

Note: Only five other examples of this exact pattern are published. The first illustrated by J. Ayers (ed.), Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum Istanbul, A Complete Catalogue, Part II, Yuan and Ming Dynasty Porcelains, London, 1986, p. 427, col. pl. 621; two ewers from the Ardebil Shrine, Tehran, one of which with a broken strap-handle and missing the tip of the spout, is illustrated by J. Pope, Chinese Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine, Washington, 1956, pl. 54, fig. 29.430; and a fourth from the Tibet Museum collection, included in the exhibition, Treasures from Snow Mountains, Gems of Tibetan Cultural Relics, Shanghai Museum, 2001, is illustrated in the Catalogue, p. 176, no. 87, and a last example sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 October 2003, lot 624. It is noted that this unusual decorative pattern with two ruyi-shape frames, one on each side of the body, is "very rare among extant porcelain" of the Yongle period, op. cit., 2001, p. 176. It is possible that a limited number of ewers decorated with this unique pattern was a special commission and given as gifts by the emperor.

Compare with related ewers of the Yongle period, the first painted with scrolling chrysanthemum sprays, sold at Chrisite's Hong Kong, 7 July 2003 (Catalogue dated 28 April 2003), lot 639; and another sold in the same sale decorated with fruiting branches within quatrefoil double-lined frames, lot 643.

Christie's. The Imperial Sale including Elegance and Artistry. Treasures from a Private Collection, Hong Kong, 27 May 2008