A blue-glazed porcelain vase, Cong. Seal mark and period of Qianlong. Photo Sotheby's

of archaic cong form, the tall rectangular body rising from a broad circular base to a short cylindrical neck with a rounded rim, set on each sides with elephant-head handles suspending fixed rings, covered overall save for the foot rim with an thick unctuous purplish-blue glaze thinning to a paler tone around the handles edges, the base inscribed with the six-character reign mark in underglaze blue, wood stand; 29.3 cm., 11 1/2 in. Lot 3104. Estimate 1,000,000-1,500,000 HKD. Unsold

PROVENANCE: An old Japanese collection

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Hong Kong | 04 avr. 2012 www.sothebys.com