Lot 3178. A rare Longquan celadon 'Peony' ewer, Ming dynasty, 15th century;8 1/2 in. (21.5 cm.) high. Estimate HK$300,000 - HK$500,000. Price realized HK$525,000 ($68,059). Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The gently flattened ewer with quadrilobed sides rises from a slightly splayed short foot to a tall cylindrical neck, terminating with a mouth of conforming shape. Each of the two sides are moulded in relief with a petal-shaped panel enclosing a peony spray. The narrow sides with a graceful arched strap-handle and an elegantly curved spout, connected to the body with a scroll-shaped strut, all under a fine and even green glaze stopping neatly above the foot, Japanese wood box

Provenance: Akaboshi family (according to label on box)

Note: Compare to a related Longquan celadon ewer, but moulded to the sides with a panel enclosing a lingzhi spray, previously in the Edward T. Chow Collection, sold at Sotheby's London, 16 December 1980, lot 308.

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