Early Ceramics from the Yangdetang Collection. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015 

Lot 70. A green-glazed pottery figure of a dog, Eastern Han dynasty (25-220). Estimate HK$160,000 – HK$200,000 ($20,745 - $25,932). Price realised HKD 200,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The hollow figure is naturalistically modelled as a recumbent dog with its head tilted upwards, the mouth agape exposing the tongue and fangs, covered with a finely crackled green glaze with a silverish iridescent patina. The underside and interior are unglazed exposing the reddish-brown body. 10 1/4 in. (26 cm.) high, box

Provenance: Yangdetang Collection prior to 1992

Exhibited: Chugoku meito ten: Chugoku toji 2000- nen no seika (Exhibition of Chinese Pottery: Two Thousand Years of Chinese Ceramics), Tokyo, 1992, no. 2

Lot 71. A straw-glazed pottery figure of a dog, Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). Estimate HK$160,000 – HK$280,000 ($20,745 - $36,304). Price realised HKD 200,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The hollow figure is modelled as a dog standing foursquare, its head tilted up with ears pricked, the mouth agape exposing the tongue and fangs, wearing a harness with stamped decorations, covered overall with a finely crackled glaze of pale amber tone. 11 3/8 in. (29 cm.) long, box

Provenance: Yangdetang Collection, acquired before 1985

Literature: Tan Dan-jiong, History of Chinese Ceramics, vol. 1, Taipei, 1985, p. 36

Exhibited: National Museum of History, The Exhibition of Chinese Ceramics of Eight Dynasties, Taipei, 1987, Catalogue, p. 18

Lot 72. Two Yue celadon mythical beast-form holders, Western Jin dynasty (265-317). Estimate HK$120,000 – HK$200,000 ($15,559 - $25,932). Price realised HKD 237,500. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

Each is modelled as a recumbent beast mounted by a columnar receptacle on the back, the face resembles a lion with large rounded eyes, a broad snout, sharp fangs and curly mane, the body detailed with carved fur markings, covered overall with a greyish-celadon glaze pooling at the recesses. 5 1/4 in. (13.5 cm.), 5 1/8 in. (13 cm.) long, box

Provenance: Fred Lee Gallery Pte Ltd., Hong Kong, 20 March 1990
Yangdetang Collection

Lot 73. A Yue celadon chicken head spout' ewer, Southern Dynasties (420-589). Estimate HK$150,000 – HK$200,000 ($19,449 - $25,932). Price realised HKD 187,500. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The ewer is sturdily potted with an ovoid body rising to a waisted neck flaring to a galleried rim, applied to the shoulder with two angular loop handles, a short spout in the form of a chicken-head, and a long arched handle terminating in a dragon head grasping the mouth rim of the ewer, covered allover with a greyish-celadon glaze, stopping at the foot exposing the pale grey body on the base. 12 3/8 in. (31.5 cm.) high, box

Provenance: Fred Lee Gallery Pte Ltd., Hong Kong, 20 March 1990
Yangdetang Collection

Lot 74. A Yue celadon jar, Western Jin dynasty (265-317). Estimate HK$120,000 – HK$180,000 ($15,559 - $23,338). Price realised HKD 187,500. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The jar is decorated with a band of stamped decoration on the shoulder, and applied with a pair of mask and ring handles alternating with a pair of small loop handles, covered inside and out with a pale sea-green glaze ending in an irregular line towards the foot exposing the buff ware. 10 1/8 in. (25.8 cm.) high, box

Provenance: Yangdetang Collection, acquired before 1992

Lot 75. A Henan black-glazed blue-splashed ewer, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HK$100,000 – HK$150,000 ($12,966 - $19,449). Price realised HKD 212,500. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The ewer is potted with a globular body rising to a trumpet neck, the mouth and shoulder connected by the handle surmounted by a knob, the other side of the shoulder applied with a short spout, covered with a dark-brown glaze splashed with milky-blue mottling particularly to the upper section, the glaze stopping above the foot, exposing the pale grey body. 7 1/8 in. (18 cm.) high, box

Provenance: Yangdetang Collection, acquired before 1985

Literature: Tan Dan-jiong, History of Chinese Ceramics, vol. 1, Taipei, 1985, p. 94

Exhibited: National Museum of History, The Exhibition of Chinese Ceramics of Eight Dynasties, Taipei, 1987, Catalogue, p. 22
Chugoku meito ten: Chugoku toji 2000- nen no seika (Exhibition of Chinese Pottery: Two Thousand Years of Chinese Ceramics), Tokyo, 1992, no. 50.

Lot 76. A Changsha polychrome-decorated mandarin duck-form holder, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HK$180,000 – HK$240,000 ($23,338 - $31,118). Price realised HKD 225,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The water pot is modelled as a recumbent mandarin duck, the crest and plumage carefully combed, supporting on its back a vase-shaped receptacle, covered overall with a greyish-olive glaze with green and dark-brown splashes. The base is unglazed revealing the greyish-brown body. 6 1/4 in. (15.8 cm.) long, box

Provenance: Yangdetang Collection, acquired before 1987

Exhibited: National Museum of History, The Exhibition of Chinese Ceramics of Eight Dynasties, Taipei, 1987, Catalogue, p. 24

Lot 77. A white-glazed water sprinkler, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HK$50,000 – HK$80,000 ($6,483 - $10,373). Price realised HKD 118,750. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The vessel is finely potted with a globular body supported on a splayed foot, rising to a long tapering neck and fluted mouth separated by a disc in between, the short spout shaped with a waist before flaring to a cup-shaped mouth. It is covered overall with a finely crackled clear glaze with a slight greyish-green tinge, stopping irregularly above the foot exposing the fine white body. 9 1/2 in. (24.3 cm.) high, box

Provenance: Fred Lee Antique, Hong Kong, 18 March 1992
Yangdetang Collection

Lot 78. A white-glazed stem cup, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HK$30,000 – HK$50,000 ($3,890 - $6,483). Price realised HKD 56,250. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The cup is elegantly potted with gently flared sides and a stepped base, supported on a short spreading foot with a flattened knob in between, covered inside and out with a finely crackled clear glaze with a pale greenish tinge, with the exception of the underside revealing the fine white body. 2 7/8 in. (7.4 cm.) high, box

Provenance: China Curios Centre, Hong Kong, 1994
Yangdetang Collection

Lot 79. A white-glazed circular inkstone, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HK$80,000 – HK$120,000 ($10,373 - $15,559). Price realised HKD 200,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The central unglazed grinding surface is encircled by a narrow well, all above an openwork apron formed by sixteen short legs attached to a ring, covered with a finely crackled clear glaze with the exception of the grinding surface and underside, revealing the fine white body material. 6 in. (15.4 cm.) diam., box

Provenance: Galaxie Art & Gift Company, Hong Kong, 20 March 1992
Yangdetang Collection 

Note: The result of Oxford Authentication thermoluminescence test no. C101z34 is consistent with the dating of this lot.

Lot 80. A white-glazed 'Dragon and Lion' ewer, Tang-Five Dynasties (618-960). Estimate HK$150,000 – HK$200,000 ($19,449 - $25,932). Price realised HKD 500,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The ewer is potted with an ovoid body rising to a flared neck, the handle moulded in the form of a crouching lion clambering towards the inner mouth rim, the short spout in the form of dragon-head, covered overall with a glossy clear glaze, with the exception of the base revealing the white body. 7 7/8 in. (20 cm.) high, box

Provenance: Yangdetang Collection, acquired before 1987

Exhibited: National Museum of History, The Exhibition of Chinese Ceramics of Eight Dynasties, Taipei, 1987, Catalogue, p. 27
Chugoku meito ten: Chugoku toji 2000- nen no seika (Exhibition of Chinese Pottery: Two Thousand Years of Chinese Ceramics), Tokyo, 1992, no. 16.

Lot 81. A white-glazed lamp stand, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HK$150,000 – HK$200,000 ($19,449 - $25,932). Price realised HKD 937,500. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The lamp stand is delicately potted with a long fluted body surmounted by a rounded drip pan circling the candle holder, supported on eleven feet above a wider drip pan surmounting a splayed foot, covered overall with a clear crackled glaze with a lime-green tone. The base is unglazed revealing the fine white body. 9 1/8 in. (23.3 cm.) high, box

Provenance: Po Yuen Tong, Hong Kong, 27 August 1995
Yangdetang Collection

Lot 82. A small sancai-glazed washer, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HK$80,000 – HK$120,000 ($10,373 - $15,559). Price realised HKD 125,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The washer with rounded sides and a flat base is splashed with amber, straw and green glazes on the interior, the centre with three sesame-shaped spur marks. The exterior is moulded with a fish-roe ground characterised by concentric rings of small bosses in imitation of metalwork, covered with a rich amber glaze pooling at the recesses. 3 3/8 in. (8.8 cm.) diam., box

Provenance: Galaxie Art & Gift Company, Hong Kong, 10 August 1993
Yangdetang Collection

Lot 83. A sancai-glazed duck-form cup, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HK$180,000 – HK$260,000 ($23,338 - $33,711). Price realised HKD 525,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The vessel is potted as a plump-bodied recumbent duck with its neck arched backwards over the opening between the feather-moulded wings so that the open beak can grasp the rim of the flower-form opening for the wick, the lower body crisply moulded with florettes and granular decoration, splashed on the exterior with straw, amber and green glazes, the base and interior left unglazed exposing the chalky white body. 4 7/8 in. (12.3 cm.) long, box

Provenance: Galaxie Art & Gift Company, Hong Kong, 10 August 1993
Yangdetang Collection

Lot 84. A sancai-glazed circular box and cover, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HK$150,000 – HK$200,000 ($19,449 - $25,932). Price realised HKD 187,500. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The top of the cover is delicately decorated with florettes in amber and cream glazes on a green ground, the sides of the box and cover splashed with amber and cream glazes. The interior of the box is covered with a thin layer of transparent green glaze, while the base and interior of the cover are unglazed, revealing the buff ware. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm.) diam., box

Provenance: Yangdetang Collection, acquired before 1985

Literature: Tan Dan-jiong, History of Chinese Ceramics, vol. 1, Taipei, 1985, p. 93 

Lot 85. A sancai-glazed circular box and cover, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HK$150,000 – HK$200,000 ($19,449 - $25,932). Price realised HKD 275,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015 

The box and cover of slightly compressed circular form is raised on a flat base with a bevelled outer edge. It is covered overall with a well-controlled green and amber spotted glaze, falling in an irregular line on the unglazed underside. The interior of the box is covered with a pale green glaze. 3 3/4 in. (9.6 cm.) diam., box 

Provenance: Yangdetang Collection, acquired before 1985 

Literature: Tan Dan-jiong, History of Chinese Ceramics, vol. 1, Taipei, 1985, p. 93

Lot 86. A sancai-glazed blue-splashed jar, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HKD 150,000 - HKD 200,000. Price realised HKD 187,500. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The jar is covered inside and out with a transparent straw glaze applied with splashes of cobalt blue. The glaze stops in an irregular line above the foot, revealing the buff body. 5 in. (12.7 cm.) high, box

Provenance: Yangdetang Collection, acquired before 1985

Literature: Tan Dan-jiong, History of Chinese Ceramics, vol. 1, Taipei, 1985, p 81

Exhibited: National Museum of History, The Exhibition of Chinese Ceramics of Eight Dynasties, Taipei, 1987, Catalogue, p. 21

 Lot 87. A sancai-glazed elbow rest, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HK$150,000 – HK$200,000 ($19,449 - $25,932). Price realised HKD 462,500. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The vessel is modelled as a crouching lion in an alert position about to leap, the face with a fierce expression detailed with rounded eyes, a broad snout and curly mane, supported on an elliptical stand and surmounted by a flat lobed top decorated with a stylised flowerhead in the centre, glazed all over with green, cream and amber. 5 5/8 in. (14.2 cm.) long, box

Provenance: Po Yuen Tong, Hong Kong, 27 August 1995
Yangdetang Collection

Lot 88. A sancai-glazed jar, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HK$200,000 – HK$300,000 ($25,932 - $38,897). Price realised HKD 250,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

Provenance: Yangdetang Collection, acquired before 1987

Exhibited: National Museum of History, The Exhibition of Chinese Ceramics of Eight Dynasties, Taipei, 1987, Catalogue, p. 22. 

 Lot 89. A sancai-glazed applique-decorated tripod vessel, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HK$ 240,000 – HK$350,000 ($31,118 - $45,380). Unsold. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The vessel is potted with a globular body supported on three animal feet rising to a waisted neck and flared rim, decorated on the exterior with alternating larger and smaller moulded floral motifs, splashed liberally with green, amber and cream glazes, falling towards the mid-body revealing the buff ware. The feet are covered with an amber glaze. 7 3/8 in. (18.8 cm.) wide, box

Provenance: Yangdetang Collection, acquired before 1987

Exhibited: National Museum of History, The Exhibition of Chinese Ceramics of Eight Dynasties, Taipei, 1987, Catalogue, p. 21

 Lot 90. A very rare large sancai-glazed tripod dish, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate HK$ 1,000,000 – HK$2,000,000 ($129,658 - $259,316). Price realised HKD 2,680,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The interior of the tray is incised with a central flowerhead encircled by linked ruyi-heads forming a large florette within a border of detached clouds, all reserved on a resist-spotted ground, glazed alternately with green and amber. The three loop feet and exterior are covered with a clear glaze, stopping above the underside revealing the buff ware. 11 1/4 in. (28.7 cm.) diam., box.

Provenance: Chu Cheng Tang Ltd., Taipei, 29 May 1985
Yangdetang Collection

Notes: Sancai dishes of this size and rich design are very rare. A similar dish of larger size (38.1 cm.), from the Eumorfopoulos Collection, and now in the Victoria and Albert Museum is illustrated by M. Medley, T'ang Pottery and Porcelain, London, 1981, p. 37, pl. 25. The author proposes that the decoration on dishes of this type would have been inspired by the chased decoration on silver. Compare also to another similarly decorated sancai dish with a slightly different flowerhead design and a wavy pattern on the mouth rim, covered with a green glaze on the exterior, in the Eisei Bunko Collection, Tokyo, illustrated in Sekai Toji Zenshu, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 54.

 Lot 91. A moulded sancai-glazed octagonal inkstone, Liao dynasty (907-1125). Estimate HK$100,000 – HK$150,000 ($12,966 - $19,449). Price realised HKD 125,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The inkstone is shaped as a waisted octagon with a recessed base, moulded in the centre with a shallow water receptacle decorated with overlapping petals, surrounded by moulded peony sprays, levelling towards the rim to an unglazed grinding surface. The facetted sides are each moulded with a diamond-shaped cartouche enclosing a peony blossom surrounded by foliate. The inkstone is covered overall with splashes of cream, green and amber glazes, with three spur marks on the foot rim. 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm.) wide, box

Provenance: Fred Lee Antique, Hong Kong, 1992
Yangdetang Collection

Lot 92. A moulded sancai-glazed octagonal inkstone, Liao dynasty (907-1125). Estimate HK$150,000 – HK$200,000 ($19,449 - $25,932). Price realised HKD 187,500. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The top is moulded with a bracket-lobed recessed water receptacle moulded with a single spray of peony, levelling to an unglazed grinding surface, surrounded by moulded peony sprays on the well. The facetted sides are decorated with alternating panels of leaping beasts and diaper patterns. The vessel is covered overall with cream, amber and green glazes, the green glaze extending to the countersunk base. 6 1/4 in. (15.8 cm.) wide, box

Provenance: Galaxie Art & Gift Company, Hong Kong, 27 November 1993
Yangdetang Collection

Notes: This current lot and lot 91 function both as an inkstone and a brush washer. Several similar examples, one octagonal and three circular ones, were included in the National Museum of Chinese History Museum exhibition Exhibition on the Collected Treasures of Liao Dynasty from Inner Mongolia, Beijing, 2002, pp. 302-308. Another circular example is illustrated in Zhongguo taoci quanji -17- Liao, Shanghai, 1986, pl. 61.

Christie's. The Pavilion Sale - Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, 6 October 2015, 22nd Floor