Lot 27. A rare Ge-type glazed octagonal vase, hu, Yongzheng seal mark and of the period; 27cm (10 5/8in) high. Estimate £40,000 - 60,000 (€48,000 - 72,000). Sold for £37,500 (€42,844). Photo Bonhams.

The faceted body raised on a gently spreading foot cut with a small rectangular opening on each of the two shorter sides, the neck with raised bands at the top and bottom of the two applied square-section handles, the exterior and interior all covered in a thick greyish-blue glaze with distinctive fine crackle lines, the glaze cut neatly at the brown-dressed mouth and the foot. 

Provenance: a distinguished European private collection and thence by descent

The present vase was inspired in form by the archaic bronze vessel, fang hu. The glaze, imitating the Song dynasty Guan glaze, was revived during the Yongzheng period alongside the Ru, Ge and Jun glazes. These types of Song dynasty inspired glazes were particularly popular during the Qianlong period as the Emperor advocated to 'restore ancient ways', suggesting turning to antiquity for models, enabling to imbue their designs with simplicity and honesty, achieving refinement and elegance. The 'ancient ways' referred to the intrinsic values of sincerity, simplicity, and happy exuberance. See for example a Guan glazed cong vase, Qianlong mark and period, Lot 28 in this sale. These forms and designs continued into the later Qing period, as can be seen in the similarly glazed hu and cong shaped vases of the Jiaqing and Daoguang periods, lots 29 and 30 in this sale.

Several hu-shaped vases bearing the Yongzheng seal mark and of the period of varying forms were produced. These included the simpler rectangular shaped guan glazed vase; the hexagonal shaped Guan glazed vase, the slightly more rounded bodied ru glazed vase; and the octagonal shaped vase, such as the present lot. For the various forms see from the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of the Treasures of the Palace Museum: Monochrome Porcelain, Hong Kong, 1999, pls.204 and 205; see also another vase sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 April 2011, lot 3014 and from the British Royal Collection, illustrated on their website, collection no.RCIN 26808.

The present vase is very similar in form to the vase in the British Royal Collection, which is however of larger size (47cm high).

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART. London, New Bond Street, 15 May 2014