Lot 1768. An iron-red-decorated 'Holy water' vase, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 8 5/8 in. (22 cm.) high. Estimate USD 30,000 - USD 50,000. Price realised USD 86,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011. 

The tapering ovoid body supported on a broad domed base, the tall cylindrical neck encircled by a collar and decorated with bands of key-fret, florets, lappets and ruyi, the body painted with stylized lotus sprays between bands of upright plantain leaves and lotus lappets, the foot encircled by a band of petal lappets.

Note: In A Dictionary of Chinese Ceramics, Singapore, 2002, p. 47, Wang Qingzhen quotes old sources that state that this type of vase with iron-red decoration and no reign mark was only made during the Qianlong period as court gifts to Tibetan monks. Their production ceased after Qianlong's reign, as Tibetan monks no longer came to court. Qianlong is portrayed with a similar vase on the table next to him in a painting by Giuseppe Castiglione illustrated by E.S. Rawski and J. Rawson (eds.) in China: The Three Emperors, London, 2005, p. 282, no. 194. An identical vase dated to the Qianlong period and in the collection of the Nanjing Museum, is illustrated by Xu Huping in The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, p. 225, where its use is explained. A pair of vases in the collection of the National Palace Museum is illustrated in Monarchy and Its Buddhist Way: Tibetan-Buddhist Ritual Implements in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1999, p. 184, no. 91.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part I and Part II Including Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, New York, 24 March 2011