Lot 3092. A small celadon-glazed handled vase, Seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 18.7 cm., 7 3/8 in. Estimate 1,500,000 — 1,800,000 HKD. Lot sold 3,400,000 HKD  (320,083 EUR). Photo Sotheby's

the compressed globular body rising from a flared foot to broad angular shoulders, surmounted by a waisted neck surmounted by a 'garlic-bulb' mouth, covered overall in an unctuous celadon glaze of sea-foam green tone, the lower body intricately carved with fifteen pendent cicada lappets enclosing leiwen motifs, all between a chevron band below the shoulders and band of petal lappets above the foot, the shoulders carved with a collar of pendent petal lappets above two stylised pairs of confronting dragons in pursuit of a 'flaming pearl' interrupted by four 'rope-twist' handles carved in openwork, the neck divided into two registers by a wider band of 'rope-twist', the upper register with upright petal lappets, the lower with dots and a pendent palmette band, all between a band of stylised ruyi motifs encircling the mouthrim and base of the neck, the foot further skirted with a lappet band, the base carved in relief with a six-character reign mark on a recessed panel.

Note: This elegant vase represents the height of ceramic production at the Imperial kilns of Jingdezhen under the direction of China’s most famous superintendent, Tang Ying (1682-1756). It is an unusual piece in many ways, notable for its fine celadon glaze, rare form and attractive relief design, and has its roots in archaism.

Although no other vase of this form appears to have been published, it is reminiscent of archaic bronze vessels which often supplied models for Qianlong porcelain. Early Qing potters became masters at combining shapes and styles in myriad ways to create innovative pieces, and this vase is no exception. The form is possibly an adaptation of a Han ritual bronze vessel, hu; a bronze vessel of this type appears in the Xiqing Gujian, a compilation of archaic bronzes in the collection of the Imperial palace, dated 1755.This reference to archaic forms would also have been much appreciated by the Qianlong Emperor who was a great connoisseur and keen collector of archaic pieces.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 08 April 2014