Lot 4248. A Longquan celadon pear-shaped vase, Yuan-Ming dynasty, 14th century, 10 1/4 in. (26.2 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 450,000 - HKD 550,000. Price realised HKD 475,000 © Christie's Images Ltd 2012

The pear-shaped body is supported on a sturdy foot ring and surmounted by a trumpet neck flanked by a pair of mythical beast head handles with large fixed rings. The neck, shoulder and mid-section are encircled by raised bands. It is covered overall with an even rich olive-green glaze, Japanese double wood boxes.

Note: Several vases of this form without added decorative motifs are published. Two undecorated vases with very similar flattened ribbed handles dated to the 13th/14th century are in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, London, 1986, pp. 220-221, nos. 200 and 201. One in the Metropolitan Museum is illustrated in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The World's Great Collections Oriental Ceramics vol. 12, fig. 63. Two other vases were sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3812, and 30 November 2011, lot 3008. 

Vase in Shape of Ancient Bronze Vessel, Ming dynasty (1368–1644), 15th–16th century. Porcelain with celadon glaze (Longquan ware). H. 10 1/8 in. (25.7 cm). Bequest of Mary Stillman Harkness, 1950; 50.145.300 © 2000–2017 The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A rare Longquan celadon pear-shaped vase, Yuan dynasty, 14th century, 10 1/4 in. (26 cm.) high. Sold for HKD 860,000 at Christie's Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3812. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011

The pear-shaped body supported on a sturdy footring and surmounted by a trumpet neck flanked by a pair of large ring handles, the neck, shoulder and mid-section encircled by raised double bands, covered overall with an even light olive green glaze. Estimate HKD 450,000 - HKD 550,000.

Provenance: Japanese private collection

Exhibited: Gotoh Museum, Tokyo

Note: Vases of this form that are without added decorative features are quite rare and this example, reminiscent of earlier Song dynasty examples, beautifully shows off the luster and colour of the Longquan glaze.

For a vase of this shape, carved with flowers and with more elaborate monster-mask and mock-ring handles, see the example in the National Palace Museum, illustrated in Age of The Great Khan, Pluralism in Chinese Art and Culture Under the Mongols, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1991, p. 145, pl. IV-42.

A rare Longquan celadon pear-shaped vase, Yuan dynasty, 14th century, 10 in. (25.5 cm.) high. Sold for HKD 350,000 at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 November 2011, lot 3008. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011

The pear-shaped body supported on a sturdy footring and surmounted by a trumpet neck flanked by a pair of mythical beast head handles suspending large fixed rings, the neck, shoulder and mid-section encircled by raised bands, covered overall with an even rich olive green glaze, Japanese double wood box. Estimate HKD 300,000 - HKD 500,000.

The Property of a Japanese Private Collector

Provenance: Acquired in Kyoto in the 1920s and thence by direct descent to the present owner

Note: Vases of this form without added decorative features are quite rare. Two undecorated vases with very similar flattened ribbed handles dated to the 13th/14th century are in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, London, 1986, pp. 220-221, nos. 200 and 201. Another similarly shaped undecorated Yuan Longquan vase was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3821.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 30 May 2012, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall