A very rare Imperial blue and white vase (shuanluping), China, encircled underglaze-blue six-character mark Yongzheng and of the period. Photo Nagel Auktionen

The cylindrical body rises from a short foot, sloping at the shoulders to a tall neck, delicately painted in strong tones of cobalt-blue, with dense scrolling foliage, the curving stems sprouting feathery serrated leaves. H. 24,1 cm - Estimate 200 000/300 000 €

This underglaze decoration is indicative of the innovative advances in the Yongzheng reign, as the motif premiered during this period.

Provenance: Sotheby's London, 14.11.2002, Lot 444

The present vase appears to be unique. A Yongzheng-marked vase decorated with flower scrolls in underglaze-blue against a yellow-enamelled ground is illustrated by J. Ayers, Chinese Ceramics in the Baur Collection, vol. 2, Geneva, 1999, p. 90, no. 209. Compare a similarly decorated meiping illustrated in Duncan Macintosh, Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, 1994, pl. 87.

Nagel Auktionen. 2013/05/08. http://www.auction.de/