Lot 234. An archaistic robin's-egg glazed vase, cong, 18th century; 14.4cm high. Estimate HK$ 350,000 - 450,000 (€34,000 - 43,000). Sold for HK$ 600,000 (€ 63,290). Photo courtesy Bonhams.

The square vessel with a hollowed circular foot rising to a circular mouth from a short splayed neck, decorated in raised relief featuring the eight trigrams motif at the edges interspersed between elongated waves motif, all lustrously covered in a thick and creamy robin's-egg glaze. 

Note: Although there are many archaic remnants of jadecong from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, it is commonly accepted by the academics that the earliestcong originated from the Liangzhu culture dating back to almost 3500BC. There are elongated depictions ofcong as well as squatted versions recorded, however a shroud of mystery is cast over the origins of their representation and purpose of use. Some academics argue that they were used in ritualistic practices, whereby the cong represents the earth and its counterpart the bi represents the heavens. The imagery of a cong must undeniably served an important place in Chinese history for the iconography has carefully survived through the ages, and was revered and copied during the Qing dynasty, as shown by the current lot. 

Compare a similar but larger example of a robin's-egg-glazed cong dated to the Qianlong period, in the Qing Court collection within the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Monochrome Porcelain. The Complete Collection of the Treasures of the Palace Museum, Shanghai, 1999, p.209, no.188. 

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. Hong Kong. 24 Nov 2013 14:00 CST