Lot 1802. A fine and very rare teadust-glazed vase, Qianlong incised six-character sealmark and of the period (1736-1795); 10 3/4 in. (27.4 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 2,000,000 - HKD 3,000,000. Price Realized: HK$3,847,500 ($495,185). © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.

The ovoid body finely potted with tapering sides, the sloping shoulder rising to a waisted neck and a flaring mouth, covered overall in a rich teadust-green glaze of characteristic lightly mottled tone, zitan stand and Japanese wood box. 

Provenance: The Akaboshi family collection, sold at Tokyo, The Bijutsu Club, Ryogoku, 11 June 1917, lot 198 for Yen 4300.

Note: The shape is highly unusual and resembles monochrome-glazed amphora, the liuye zun or 'willow-leaf vase', from the earlier Kangxi period, such as the peachbloom-glazed amphora sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 31 October 2000, lot 868. Whilst the amphora is potted with a slim, elongated body, the present vase is much larger, has a sturdier body and a broader footring. For a related Yongzheng-marked yellow-glazed vase with a flaring mouthrim and slimmer body, in the Palace Museum collection, Beijing, see Kangxi Yongzheng Qianlong, Hong Kong, 1989, p. 175, no. 4

A vase of this shape bearing a Qianlong mark but with a clair-de-lune glaze was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 31 October 2000, lot 869.

Christie's. Hong Kong. Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. 27 May 2008