Lot 3083. A white-glazed ritual food vessel, fu, Incised mark and period of Guangxu (1875-1908); width 29.5 cm., 11 5/8  in. Estimate 200,000 — 250,000 HKD. Lot sold 225,000 HKD. Photo: Sotheby's 2013

of archaistic form and rectangular section, supported on a splayed base divided by arched openings forming four corner feet, the box with steep flaring sides moulded with zoomorphic archaistic mythical beasts and angular scrolls, above a key-fret border and lappet panels around the foot, the cover surmounted by a flanged gallery with wavy outline, similarly moulded with confronting stylised phoenix below concentric arches around the top, set with a pair of loop handles issuing from animal heads on each side of the box and cover, all beneath a smooth transparent glaze slightly tinged to blue, the base incised with a six-character reign mark.

Note: Another vessel of this type from The Yangzhitang Collection, illustrated in Imperial Porcelain of Late Qing from the Kwan Collection, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1983, cat. no. 148, was sold Christie's Singapore, 30th March 1997, and Christie's Hong Kong, 30th May 2006, lot 1304.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. Hong Kong, 08 april 2013