A blue and white soft-paste 'Sanduo' vase. Qing dynasty, 19th century

The long ovoid body rising to a truncated and slightly flared neck, well-painted in underglaze blue with drooping meandering leafy branches bearing bountiful pomegranates, peaches and finger citron, the sanduo or 'three abundances', the fruits articulated with shading and stippling above an upright lappet band at the foot and below a pendant trefoil band at the shoulder, the neck with tasseled emblems of alternating paired fish and shou characters, the white body with characteristic craquelure throughout, the recessed base glazed white, intricately carved wood stand, old wood fitted box (3) - height 16 in., 40.6 cm - Estimate: 25,000—35,000 USD

Provenance: Property of an old japanese collection.

Note: It is rare to find soft-paste vases of this exceptional size. The closest in height offered most recently at auction measures 33 cm: an impressive soft-paste relief-carved meiping, formerly in the collection of Edward T. Chow, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 19th May 1981, lot 518, and later in the Leshangtang collection, sold again in the same rooms, 11th April 2008, lot 2507.

The 'Three Abundances' (sanduo) comprise the finger citron, peach and pomegranate. Together they are a symbol for 'may you have an abundance of blessings, long life and sons.' This motif comes from the chapter on heaven and earth in the Zhuangzi, a text from the Warring States period.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art including Chinese and Japanese Art from The Collection of Frieda and Milton Rosenthal. 16 Sep 08. www.sotheby's.com