Lot 672. A Longquan celadon 'lingzhi'-handled mallet vase, 14th century. Estimate 40,000 — 60,000 HKD. Lot sold 162,500 HKD. Photo: Sotheby's.

of mallet-form flanked by lingzhi-shaped handles joined by a raised rib, applied overall with an even sage-green glaze, saved for the knife-pared foot left unglazed and burnt orange in the firing; 17.5 cm, 6 7/8 in.

Notes: Vases of this elegant mallet shape are seldom found with ruyi-shaped handles and raised ribs, although a similar vase was sold in these rooms, 14th May 1983, lot 452; and another was sold in our London rooms, 9th June 1987, lot 182. 

Mallet vases of this type are more commonly known with fish dragon or phoenix handles, such as a group recovered from a ship wrecked off the Korean coast of Sinan in or shortly after 1323 AD, and included in the Special Exhibition of Cultural Relics Found off Sinan Coast, National Museum of Korea, Seoul 1977, cat. nos. 4-7. 

Sotheby's .Chinese Art, Hong Kong | 02 Jun 2016