Lot 1335. A rare small teadust-glazed bottle vase, Yongzheng four-character incised seal mark and of the period (1723-1735). Estimate USD 20,000 - USD 30,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2016

The vase is covered overall with a finely speckled opaque glaze of rich olive-green color that thins to a brownish-tone shell on the edges of the tubular handles and everted rim. 5 7/8 in. (15 cm.) high

Notes: A vase of this rare shape and comparable size (14.5 cm. high), covered with a Ru-type glaze, and with a Yongzheng six-character mark in underglaze blue rather than a four-character incised mark, is in the Palace Museum, Beijing, and illustrated inQingdai Yugao Ciqi, vol. I, part 2, Beijing, 2005, pp. 322-23, no. 147. The form of these vases is based on 'arrow' vases, or touhu. The touhu was the primary accessory of a drinking game which involved throwing all of one's arrows into the mouth of the vase. The loser was assessed a penalty drink for every errant throw.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 16 September 2016, New York, Rockefeller Plaza