Lot 1264. A rare blue and white 'Deer and Crane' vase, Jiaqing six-character seal mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1796-1820); 12 ½ in. (31.7 cm.) high. Estimate USD 50,000 - USD 80,000. Price realised USD 732,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The elegantly shaped vase is decorated on each side of the body with a deer grasping a sprig of lingzhi in its mouth and standing below a tree, with a crane perched towards the top and two bats in flight to one side, all between borders of ruyi heads above and petal lappets below. The slightly tapered neck is decorated with bats and lotus blossoms, flanked by a pair of angular scroll handles beneath the slightly everted rim.

Provenance: Collection of Chin Hai Wang, acquired in Taiwan before 1964, and thence by descent within the family.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 14 - 15 September 2017, New York