Lot 1306. Property from Mr. Yamanaka Tateo. A large blue and white ‘peony’ jar, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368); 35.5 cm across., Japanese wood box. Price realised HKD 2,394,000 (Estimate HKD 500,000 – HKD 800,000). © Christie's Images Ltd 2024.

Provenance: A distinguished family collection from western Japan, by repute

Note: The heavily potted jar is boldly painted in underglaze blue of rich sapphire-blue tone accentuated by ‘heaping and piling’ with a broad band of peony scroll bearing six large blooms, between a band of classic scroll and upright petal lappets below, and a band of lotus meander on the shoulder above, with the short neck encircled by a band of waves.
Similar jars are greatly limited in number and the execution of details varies from piece to piece as every example was individually finished. Compare to a similarly decorated jar in the Shanghai Museum, illustrated in Art of Yuan Blue-and-white Porcelain, Shanghai, 2012, no. 7.

Christie's. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 29 November 2024