Lot 1933. A rare small blue and white double-gourd vase, Jiajing six-character mark and of the period (1522-1566); 4 in. (10.2 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 120,000 - HKD 180,000. Price realised HKD 1,590,000. © Christies Image Ltd 2013

The vase is of characteristic gourd shape with the upper sphere slightly smaller than the lower section, each decorated in vibrant blue tones with four dragon medallions reserved on a honeycomb-ground, each hexagonal shape containing dots at the centre. The constricted waist is undecorated, and the sunken base is inscribed with the reign mark, stand. 

Exhibited: Hong Kong, Ming and Qing Porcelain, Jeiwah's Gallery, p. 8, no. 6.

Note: Small double-gourd shaped vases from this period appear to be extremely rare. An identical example was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 29 April 2002, lot 614. Two Jiajing-marked examples of almost identical size and shape, but decorated with striding dragons amidst jagged clouds, are in the Palace Museum, Beijing, and National Palace Museum, Taipei, the former illustrated in Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (II), The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2000, no. 84; the latter in Blue-and-White Wares of the Ming Dynasty, Book V, Hong Kong, 1963, pl. 12a-b. An example in the Percival David Foundation, now housed at the British Museum, is illustrated in Underglaze Blue and Copper Red Decorated Porcelains, Revised Edition 2004, London, p. 24, no. 611.

Christie's. IN PURSUIT OF REFINEMENT - A LEGACY OF THE YC CHEN COLLECTION. 29 May 2013. Convention Hall