Lot 124. A very rare blue and white moulded vase, Kangxi period (1662-1722), 17 5/8 in. (44.8 cm.) high, stand. Estimate HKD 500,000 - HKD 700,000 (USD 64,634 - USD 90,487). Price realised HKD 625,000 (USD 80,784) © Christie's Imags Ltd 2017.

The exterior is painted in underglaze blue with roundels of coiled dragons amidst cloud scrolls, reserved on a white ground moulded with dense scrolling peony flowers and leaves. The base bears double circles in underglaze blue.

Note: This type of Kangxi vases with a moulded floral ground appears to be very rare. Other vase shapes with similar dense peony ground include gu and beaker forms. Compare to a gu-form vase of similar size and colour, but decorated with shaped panels of landscape and domestic scenes, sold at Sotheby’s London, 12 July 2006, lot 630.

A beaker vase bearing figural roundels in underglaze blue and copper red, but reserved on a celadon moulded ground, was sold at Christie’s New York, 19 September 2006, lot 286. A set of five-piece garniture in the collection of Augustus the Strong, including two of
these celadon vases, was illustrated by Eva Strober, La maladie de porcelain, Leipzig, 2001, no. 46, pp. 108 and 109.

Christie's. The Pavilion Sale - Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 4 April 2017, Hong Kong