Lot 1. A yellow-glazed handled cup, Mark and period of Kangxi (1662-1722); Width across handles 7 cm, 2¾ in. Lot sold: 113,400 GBP (Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000 GBP). (C) 2021 Sotheby's

delicately potted with gently rounded sides rising from a short foot to a slightly flared rim, set with a pair of upright loop handles to the sides, the exterior finely incised with a narrow band enclosing two pairs of confronting archaistic dragons flanking a central pearl, applied with a transparent ochre-yellow glaze, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within a double-circle, boxwood stand.

Lot 2. A yellow-glazed 'bajixiang' dish, Mark and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); Diameter 20.8 cm, 8¼ in. Lot sold: 37,800 GBP (Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000 GBP). (C) 2021 Sotheby's

the shallow rounded sides rising to a gently flared rim, the exterior incised with the 'Eight Buddhist Emblems' and covered with an egg-yolk yellow glaze, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark in underglaze blue.

Lot 3. A yellow-glazed handled cup, Qing dynasty, 18th century; Width across handles 7.8 cm, 3⅛ in. Lot sold: 27,720 GBP (Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000 GBP). (C) 2021 Sotheby's

the exterior incised with a narrow band enclosing two pairs of confronting archaistic dragons flanking a central pearl, applied with a transparent ochre-yellow glaze pooling to an amber tone around the foot, the base centred with a brown double-circle.

Provenance: Collection of Marcus Ezekiel (1854-1927).

Lot 4. A yellow-glazed handled cup, Mark and period of Kangxi (1662-1722); Width across handles 7.8 cm, 3⅛ in. Lot sold: 69,300 GBP (Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000 GBP). (C) 2021 Sotheby's

the exterior incised with a horizontal band of confronted archaistic dragons, covered evenly in pale yellow glaze, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark within a double-circle in underglaze blue.

Width across handles 7 cm, 2¾ in.

with thinly potted rounded sides supported on a short tapered foot, incised to the exterior with leafy lotus blossoms, covered overall in an egg-yolk yellow glaze, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark within a double circle in underglaze blue.

Provenance: Collection of Marcus Ezekiel (1854-1927).

Lot 6. A yellow-glazed 'dragon' handled cup, Mark and period of Kangxi (1662-1722); Width across the handles 7.5 cm, 3 in. Lot sold: 220,500 GBP (Estimate: 20,000 - 30,000 GBP). (C) 2021 Sotheby's

delicately potted, the rounded sides rising from a short foot to a gently flared rim, flanked by a pair of upright loop handles, the exterior finely incised with two sinuous five-clawed dragons in pursuit of a 'flaming pearl', all under a translucent egg-yolk yellow glaze, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark in underglaze blue within a double-circle.

Note: Compare a similar cup in the Sir Percival David Collection, now in the British Museum, London, published in Margaret Medley, Illustrated Catalogue of Ming and Ch’ing Monochrome in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, section 6, London, 1973, no. A593; and another, formerly in the collections of Henry M. Knight and T. Y. Chao, sold in our New York rooms, 22nd September 2020, lot 101.

Lot 7. A fine and rare small turquoise-enamelled bowl, Mark and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); Diameter 6.2 cm, 2⅜ in. Lot sold: 245,700 GBP (Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000 GBP). (C) 2021 Sotheby's

delicately potted, with gently rounded sides resting on a tapered foot, covered to the exterior save for the base with a rich turquoise-blue glaze, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark within a double-square.

Note: This bowl, with its superbly potted hemispherical body, is a fine example of the Yongzheng Emperor's passion for unassuming, elegant pieces of highest quality. Both the shape and glaze of this piece are innovations of the Yongzheng period, probably attributable to the genius of Tang Ying (1682-1756), superintendent at the imperial kilns, who experimented with a variety of glaze compositions to make highly tactile and innovation pieces, such as the present example. 

Lot 8. An extremely rare and fine small celadon-glazed jar and cover, Seal mark and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); Width 7.6 cm, 3 in. Lot sold: 426,400 GBP (Estimate: 100,000 - 150,000 GBP). (C) 2021 Sotheby's

elegantly potted, of ovoid form with gently curved sides rising to a raised lip with a small indent, all supported on a low oval foot, the domed cover with a globular knob and a matching indent in the flange, covered overall with a lustrous opaque light blueish-green glaze, the base inscribed with a four-character seal mark in underglaze blue.

Note: This vessel is attractive for not only its cool celadon glaze which resonances the finest Song (960-1279) prototypes, but also its harmonious proportion and delightful size which appear to be exceedingly rare during the Yongzheng period (1723-35). Water pots of this charming form were intended for use at the scholar’s desk, with the indent on the raised lip purposefully designed for receiving a spoon. The Yongzhen Emperor appears to have been particularly fond of small water pots. According to the Qinggong Neiwufu Zaobanchu dangan / Archival Records from the Qing Imperial Household Department Workshop, water pots of various form were ordered by imperial decree in the seventh year of Yongzheng reign (1729), including a few pieces in ‘winter green’ glaze, which may well refer to the present piece, with a special requirement to have them meticulously made.

Compare two pieces of closely related shape but with a large-scale overall crackle; a guan-type water pot covered with an opaque light blue-green glaze, preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing (accession no. gu-148531); the other, a guan-type vessel almost identical to the Palace Museum’s piece, formerly in the Meiyintang Collection, illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 4 (II), 2010, London, pl. 1799, recently sold at Beijing Poly, 6th June 2017, lot 5002. This rare form continued to be produced in the Qianlong period (1739-95), as evidenced by an example in the Palace Museum, Beijing (accession no. gu-152675), but decorated with formal flower scrolls in yangcai enamels, illustrated in Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong: Qing Porcelain from the Palace Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1989, p. 370, pl. 51.

Lot 9. A 'robin's egg'-glazed 'double-peach' washer, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century; Length 9.6 cm, 3⅞ in. Lot sold: 5,292 GBP (Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000 GBP). (C) 2021 Sotheby's

naturalistically modelled as two conjoined hollow peaches forming the washer with a bat on the side, borne on a leafy stem, covered overall with an unctuous mottled lavender and turquoise glaze

Note: ThiAccording to Dominic Jellinek, Marcus Ezekiel purchased several related pieces, but the descriptions given in the Collection Book are too imprecise to allow for definite identification:
- 4 turquoise pieces, purchased at Christie's London through Partridge for £19.30.
- 3 piece turquoise blue, purchased at Sotheby's London, 16th May 1924, for £8.10
- At Sotheby's London's sale on 21st May1946, lot 133 comprised six turquoise glazed scholar's desk objects, which might leave one piece not accounted for.

Lot 10. A rare turquoise-glazed gu-shaped vase, Incised seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); Height 25.3 cm, 10 in. Lot sold: 15,120 GBP (Estimate: 8,000 - 12,000 GBP). (C) 2021 Sotheby's

well potted in the form of an archaic gu vase, rising from a spreading foot a bulbus central section and a prominent trumpet neck, applied overall with a brilliant turquoise-blue glaze, the base incised with a six-character seal mark.

Lot 11. A yellow-glazed handled cup, Mark and period of Kangxi (1662-1722); Width across handles 7 cm, 2¾ in. Lot sold: 10,710 GBP (Estimate: 82,000 - 3,000 GBP). (C) 2021 Sotheby's

incised to the exterior with a horizontal band of confronted archaistic dragons, covered evenly in pale yellow glaze, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark within a double-circle in underglaze blue.

Exhibited: The World in Monochromes, Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 2009, cat. no. 182.

Lot 12. A yellow-glazed archaistic ritual wine vessel, Jue, Qing dynasty, 18th century; Height 14 cm, 5½ in. Lot sold: 85,680 GBP (Estimate: 6,000 -8,000 GBP). (C) 2021 Sotheby's

the deep U-shaped body with lion mask handle rising from three spindly blade legs to a flaring rim, set to one side with a spout and two posts, incised to the body with a band of archaistic taotie masks reserved on a dense leiwen ground, covered overall with a pale yellow glaze.

Exhibited: The World in Monochromes, Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 2009, cat. no. 183.

Lot 18. A small apple green-glazed jar, Qing dynasty, 18th century; Height 10.5 cm, 4⅛ in. Lot sold: 3,528 GBP (Estimate: 1,000 -1,500 GBP). (C) 2021 Sotheby's

the rounded sides rising to a short waisted neck and everted rim, overall suffused with irregular brown crackles, covered to the exterior with a bright green glaze.

Exhibited: The World in Monochromes, Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 2009, cat. no. 240.