Lot 3492. A fine blue-glazed wine-cup, Yongzheng six-character mark within double circles and of the period (1723-1735); 2 7/8 in. (7.4 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 400,000 - HKD 600,000. Price Realized HKD 625,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The cup is delicately potted with flared sides supported on a short foot. The thin eggshell body is covered on the exterior with an even glaze of sapphire-blue tone. The interior and base are covered with a transparent glaze, box.

Provenance: A European private collection formed in the 1980s and 1990s.

Note: This cup is a distinguished example of Qing imperial wares for its extremely refined body potted to eggshell thinness and the well polished deep blue glaze. Compare to another small Yongzheng blue-glazed cup with deeper sides in the Nanjing Museum, illustrated in The Official Kiln Porcelain of the Chinese Qing Dynasty, Shanghai, 2003, p. 209. A similar pair of bowls was included in the exhibition by Marchant, Qing Mark and Period Monochrome and Two Coloured Wares, London, 1992, Catalogue, no. 13.

See also a similar blue-glazed cup of Qianlong mark and period included in the National Palace Museum exhibition Special Exhibition of Monochrome Porcelains of the Ch'ing Dynasty, Taipei, 1981, Catalogue, no. 53

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art (Including The Su Zhu An Collection of Inkstones), Hong Kong, 27 November 2013