Lot 3113. A carved Longquan celadon ewer, Early Ming dynasty, 15th century; 12 1/2 in. (31.75 cm.) high . Estimate HK$700,000 - HK$900,000. Price realized HK$937,500 ($121,534). © Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The ewer is potted with a pear-shaped body and an elegant spout, joined to the neck with a cloud-shaped strut opposite an arched strap-handle, carved around the body with large blooms of peony flowers borne on scrolling vines growing leaves to the sides, the tapered neck is decorated with a frieze of smaller leafy scrolls, below a band of bladed leaves on the upper neck and the everted rim, all supported on a slightly splayed ring foot incised with a band of key fret pattern. It is covered overall in a glaze of olive-green tone with the exception of the ring foot. 

Provenance: A private family collection in Sweden, inherited prior to 1995

Note: Compare to related carved ewers included in the exhibition Green- Longquan Celadons of the Ming at the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2014, Catalogue nos. 60-63. An uncarved Longquan ewer of very similar shape, also dating to the early Ming dynasty, from the Manno Museum Collection, was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28 October 2002, lot 558 (fig. 1).

A very rare Early Ming Longquan celadon ewer, Ming dynasty, early 15th century, from the Manno Museum Collection. Price Realized HK$657,250 ($84,690) at Christie's Hong Kong, 28 October 2002, lot 558. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2002

Christie's. IMPORTANT CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, Hong Kong, 2 December 2015