Lot 1356. A fine and very rare carved celadon-glazed baluster vase, Qianlong carved six-character sealmark and of the period (1736-1795); 10 1/4 in. (26 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 800,000 - HKD 1000,000. Price realised HKD 2,248,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2006. 

The high shouldered jar deftly carved with a multitude of chilong dragons and phoenix, their sinuous bodies highly stylised with raised bosses terminating in curled tendrils, each mythical animal in a slightly different attitude, the short slightly flared neck rising to a lipped rim encircled by a wan emblem border, the waisted base with a further border of overlapping lotus panels, the glaze of a rich olive-green tone pooling in the recesses to highlight the carving, the reign mark neatly carved on the underside base, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: A Japanese private collection.

Note:Vases of this form and decoration are extremely rare; this appears to be the only example known.

The current vase, with its crisply carved mark, can best be compared to another carved celadon jar from the Fonthill Heirlooms (no. 643) purchased from the Lord Loch of Drylaw, subsequently in the collection of Lord Margadale of Islay, formed by Alfred Morrison, sold in our London Rooms, 18 October 1971, lot 51, and later sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 17 May 1988, lot 75. Compare also to the elaborate vase illustrated by John Ayers, Chinese Ceramics in The Baur Collection, volume 2, Geneva, 1979, fig. 295 (no. A385), with a similar treatment of the wings of the bat, a very similar mark and the glaze of a related deep tone. 

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 30 May 2006