Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 28 November 2012, Hong Kong
A fine and rare guan-type glazed pear-shaped vase,fanghu, Yongzheng six-character seal mark and of the period (1723-1735)
Lot 2306. A fine and rare guan-type glazed pear-shaped vase,fanghu, Yongzheng six-character seal mark and of the period (1723-1735); 8 1/4 in. (21 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 400,000 - HKD 600,000. Price realised HKD 5,300,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2012
The rectangular-sectioned vase is stoutly potted with rounded sides rising to a wide mouth. The sloping neck is flanked by a pair of cylindrical lug handles. The vase is covered overall with an even glaze of widely crackled greyish blue-green tone, with the exception of the unglazed foot rim which is covered with a brown dressing.
Note: A Yongzheng vase of similar form and size without a mark in the Qing Court Collection is illustrated in Monochrome Porcelain, The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 205. The author states that the group of unmarked Yongzheng examples were intended to imitate archaic prototypes. Another large Yongzheng-marked example (43.8 cm. high) was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 26 October 1993, lot 95.
The application of Song-type celadon glazes to porcelain, such as on the present lot, was another aspect of archaism seen at the court of the Yongzheng and Qianlong emperors. The use of Song-type glazes on porcelains started at the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen in the early Ming dynasty, and was one of several archaistic trends that continued into the Qing reigns. Song dynasty glazes that were particularly revered by the Ming and Qing emperors included Northern Song Ru ware and Southern Song Guan ware and Ge ware. Compare to a Ming Guan-type glazed huvase inscribed by the Qianlong emperor also in the Qing Court Collection, op. cit., pl. 201. Although a number of Qing dynasty ceramics decorated with Song-style glazes were made in ancient forms, as in the case of the present vase, there are examples of the same Song-type glazes being applied to new shapes that were pioneered at the time during the Qing dynasty.