A 'Longquan' celadon beaker vase, gu, Early Ming dynasty. Estimate 35,000 — 45,000 USD. Photo Sotheby's.

of archaic bronze form, the central section rising from a spreading domed foot to a tall trumpet neck, the compressed globular central section carved with four floral sprays divided by rows of flanges, the foot with further floral motif, and a band of upright leaves encircle the neck, applied overall in an unctuous sea-green glaze, Japanese wood box. Height 10 1/4  in., 26 cm

Notes: The densely carved floral pattern on the present vase relates to other forms dated to the early Ming dynasty. Hongwu, the first emperor of Ming, commissioned vessels from both the Longquan and Jingdezhen kilns. The simultaneous production of wares for imperial use inspired the kiln workers at the Longquan kilns to find  ways to replicate the complex designs that were being painted in underglaze blue by their counterparts at the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen. The heavier bodied, richly glazed wares of Longquan were put to remarkably effective use as the potters molded, stamped, carved and applied decoration. This innovative response to court demands ensured that the Longquan wares of the early Ming period easily aligned with tastes of the period but remain unique, utilizing distinctive characteristics to achieve a brilliant distinction. 

Lonquan celadon gu-form vases are rare. A similar example was sold in our London rooms 7th November 2012, lot 225. A vase of similar form but lacking incised decoration is illustrated in Selected Masterpieces from the Collection of The Nezu Institute of Fine Arts, Tokyo, 1978, p. 134, no. 322. For a Southern Song period variant of this form with raised flanges see John Ayers, The Baur Collection Geneva, Chinese Ceramics, vol. 1, 1968, no. A102. 

Sotheby's. Chinese Art through the Eye of Sakamoto Gor – Ceramics, New York, 17 mars 2015, 10:00 AM