A fine Imperial copper-red glazed pear-shaped porcelain vase ‘yuhuchunping’, China, underglaze blue six-character seal mark and period of Qianlong. Photo Nagel

Well-potted, the generously swelling pear-shaped body rising from a short spreading foot to a tapering neck with broad everted rim, the exterior covered in a rich copper-red glaze, the interior and recessed base glaze white and with a six-character Qianlong seal mark. Good condition. H. 30,3 cm. Estimate 50 000/70 000 €

A closely related vase in the Nanjing Museum, Nanjing, is illustrated in The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty. Shanghai, 2003, p. 346; one is published in the Illustrated Catalogue of Tokyo National Museum, Chinese Ceramics, vol. II, Tokyo, 1990, pl. 697; another from the Duke of Fife and Bulgari collections was sold Sotheby’s New York, 14th September 2011, lot 213; and a fourth vase from the Gordon collection was sold at Christie’s New York, 24th March 2011, lot 1144 

Nagel. "Asian Art". 2012/11/02 http://www.auction.de/