Lot 3116. A copper-red decorated 'Phoenix' mallet vase, shuanglu zun, Mark and period of Kangxi (1662-1722); 17.7 cm., 7 in. Estimate 700,000 — 1,000,000 HKD. Lot Sold 2,080,000 HKD. Photo: Sotheby's 2013.

the bell-shaped body surmounted by a slender tubular neck with lipped rim, decorated in tones of copper-red on two sides with an abstract mythical phoenix formed by multiple interlocking furled foliate elements, draping over the shoulder, the downturned crested head grasping a ring between its beak, the eye picked out in blackish cobalt blue, the copper of warm even brownish-grey tone, the recessed base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark written in three columns.

Note: A closely related example in the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, is illustrated in Zhongguo taoci quanji [Complete Series On Chinese Cereamics], Shanghai, 1999-2000, vol. 14, pl. 24; another is published in Illustrated Catalogue of Ch’ing Dynasty Porcelain, vol. 1, Tokyo, 1980, pl. 21; and a third vase is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, coll. no. 189-1905.